Systems and methods for detecting descented material

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for detecting presence of a thing, the thing treated with a descenter, one method including in an area in which it is possible that a thing treated with a descenter is present, using a detector to detect a descenter level in the area, producing a detected descenter level, comparing the detected descenter level to a normal descenter level for the area, determining that the detected descenter level is different from the normal descenter level, said determining indicating the possible presence of a thing treated with a descenter; and using a trained service animal to facilitate such a method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is: a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/326,240 filed on Dec. 2, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,187,533; acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/714,083filed Mar. 5, 2007 now abandoned; and a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/018,620 filed Dec. 21, 2004 now U.S. Pat.No. 7,939,015, said applications co-owned with the present invention andincorporated fully herein for all purposes and from which applicationsthe present invention and application claim priority under the PatentLaws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed, in at least certain embodiments, tosystems and methods involving the descenting of transported things:items, materials, and people, including, but not limited to, persons,drugs, explosives, produce, and agricultural products, biologicalmaterials (including, but not limited to, bacteria, molds, dander,protein, urine, plasma, sera, viral agents, viruses, yeast, air pollen,blood, spores, protozoa, allergens, semen, radioactive materials, soil,sludge water, ground water, VOCs, biological and/or chemical toxins,cysts, and gaseous agents) and animals; to the transportation of suchthings with an oxidizing agent generator; and to the detection of thingsor persons being transported with an operating oxidizing agentgenerator.

The present invention, in certain aspects, is directed to descentingsystems and methods, and in certain particular aspects, to such systemsand methods for reducing or eliminating the various odors of contrabandthrough the use of oxidizing or ozone-based descenting products andmaterials. Additionally, the present invention is directed to systemsand methods for the training and detection, by humans and serviceanimals, of the use of such systems and methods for reducing oreliminating the various odors of contraband through the use ofozone-based descenting products. Additionally, the present invention isdirected to systems and methods for protecting the health and propertyof humans and animals exposed to contraband.

The present invention is directed, in certain aspects, to descentingsystems and methods; in certain aspects, to such systems and methods forfacilitating human/animal encounters and activities; and in otheraspects to methods and systems for reducing or eliminating animal and/orhuman odors that are detectable by animals and/or humans. The inventionrelates to a method of descenting the clothes and apparatus ofsportsmen, both professional, non professional, military personnel,bikers, campers and the like. In certain aspects a method is providedfor reducing or removing human scent and any other scent that is notadvantageous in an environment from clothing and equipment of huntersand fish odors from fishermen utilizing an oxidizing agent which isozone and/or a combination of hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions. Moreparticularly, there is provided a method of reducing or removing humanscent and any other scent in a space between a human and an animal thatis not advantageous in an environment, including scents emitting fromhuman breath, human bodies, and from clothing and equipment, the methodsutilizing an oxidizing agent which is, e.g., ozone and/or a combinationof hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions.

The present inventors have recognized that it can be important to detectthe use of a descenting system. For example, service animals, such asnarcotic-sniffing canines, have been employed to discern whetherindividuals are importing contraband into a geographic location.Typically, this determination is done by taking advantage of theinherent acuteness of the canine sense of smell. The importation of suchcontraband is, obviously, illegal. Nevertheless, in an effort to profiton the “black market,” importers (or, more appropriately, smugglers)have taken many steps in an attempt to circumvent the canine sense ofsmell. One option has been to mask, or cover up, the odor of thecontraband, with substances such as coffee grounds. Alternatively,descenting systems and methods, such as that described herein, may beemployed. For example, descenting systems may be placed within thepresence of the contraband in an effort to reduce or eliminate the odoremanating from such contraband enough to reduce or eliminate the successrate of service animals.

2. Description of Related Art

A variety of descenting (removal of scents) apparatus and methods and ofdecontamination systems and methods are known, examples of which (andnot by way of limitation) are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,309,388;4,867,052; 4,941,270; 5,087,426; 5,205,999; 5,300,266; 5,433,919;5,468,454; 5,484,472; 5,514,345; 5,539,930; 5,547,476; 5,566,627;5,656,242; 5,667,564; 5,681,355; 5,762,648; 5,766,560; 5,788,930;5,789,368; 5,790,987; 5,827,407; 5,833,740; 5,882,591; 5,911,957;5,931,014; 5,942,438; 6,007,770; 6,009,559; 6,016,687; 6,027,688;6,134,806; 6,134,718; 6,149,038; 6,156,268; 6,163,098; 6,228,330;6,245,241; 6,280,691; 6,284,204; 6,312,507; 6,355,216; 6,379,435;6,503,547; 6,564,591; 6,565,805; 6,576,190; 6,589,486; 6,630,105;6,679,419; 6,827,861; 6,984,361; 7,294,318; 7,407,624; 7,510,470; andpublished U.S. Patent applications 20030044308, 20030101700;20030143108; 20030152480; 20040022679; 20040258585; 20040262241;20050051497; 20050186108; 2007166186; 20070034095; 20070101867—all ofwhich are incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

Hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife photographers all have aninterest in attracting wildlife, such as, but not limited to, deer;and/or an interest in not being detected by animals. Deer rely heavilyon their sense of smell to react with their surrounding environment,including to sense danger, interact with other deer and find food.Scents that are not a natural part of the environment will oftenfunction as a warning to deer, which may result in the deer beingspooked and running from the unnatural scent.

According to Bernier et al in Analytical Chemistry, 2000, volume 72,issue 4, pages 747-756 and references cited therein which areincorporated fully herein by reference, as many as 346 discerniblecompounds were identified in human skin emanations. The majority ofthese were carboxylic acids, alcohols and esters, but aldehydes,aromatics, heterocyclics, ketones, sulfides and thio compounds were alsoidentified. Work cited in Bernier has identified over 100 compounds fromhuman breath. Work cited in Bernier identified foot odor as anothersource of odor. Some of these compounds are the result of bacteriareacting with body emanations, while other compounds directly emanatefrom humans. Other compounds emanated from humans can includepheromones, deodorants and perfumes as well as the detergents, perfumes,scents, and additives left on human clothes. While it is not known whichspecific compound or blends of compounds emanating from humans areidentified by an animal as human, there is currently no effective way toeliminate or reduce odors from humans and from clothing and equipmentenough to reduce the odors to inhibit detection by wildlife oreffectively attract wildlife.

Persons interested in preventing detection by deer detecting human odorsor interested in attracting deer often use masks, attractants, or coverscents to prevent alerting and spooking the deer. Some commonly usedmasks are carbon sprays which, in addition to being dangerous to inhaleand which can irritate skin, become ineffective once dry. Many of theattractants contain deer urine or estrous, which besides being offensiveto the human user, have limited shelf life and are generally ineffectivesince especially the estrous tend to occur naturally only in certainseasons. Cover scents such as fruit extracts or fragrances last a shorttime and are often so over-powering that the deer easily identifies thesmell as unnatural and runs. The use of descenting soaps and shampoos ismessy, time-consuming, often skin irritating, often ineffective and doesnot address breath odor. Breath descenting using herbs are generallydistasteful, and face masks containing carbons or sieves are extremelyuncomfortable.

More recently, the use of clothing containing activated carbons and/orclothing containing bacteria killing metals such as silver has gainedsome popularity. However, activated carbon has a very low capacity forodorants and requires temperatures preferably above 400° C., morepreferably above 600° C. to regenerate the carbon. These temperaturesare well beyond temperature (100 C to 120 C) that a conventional gas orelectric clothes dryer is capable of achieving. Placement of clothing inovens capable of achieving 400 C plus temperatures needed to regeneratethe carbon can damage the fabric of a garment. Silver or othermetal-containing clothing requires direct contact of the metal with thebacteria to be effective, which is almost never the case since theclothing would then be so restricting as to be uncomfortable. Thesetypes of clothing are also expensive and do not address human odors suchas those in human breath, nor do they address any of the odors emanatingfrom the foot or any exposed part of the skin like the head and hands.

It has now been discovered that gaseous ozone effectively kills bacteriaand reduces or eliminates odors emanating from humans as well as odorscontained in clothing worn by hunters. The advantages of ozone overother known masking and descenting methods include the facts that: ozoneis a gas that eliminates odors emanating from a person (e.g., a hunter)and from personal equipment and can eliminate odors in a space between aperson and an animal; and ozone is completely natural to the environmentand leaves behind a very pleasant clean smell that wildlife and humansreadily recognize, e.g. after a lightning rain. Known ozone generatorsinclude, for example, electrical discharge, UV light, and combinationsthereof. The generator may be battery operated, operated with a caradaptor, and/or may be operated with AC current. The AC current may besupplied directly from an electrical outlet, or may be supplied using aportable generator.

Ozone is well known to treat odorous air, microorganisms, bacteria,mold, smoke, aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (seefor example U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,961,878; 2,203,188; 3,421,836; 3,750,556;3,937,967; 3,949,056; 4,045,316; 4,863,687; 4,904,289; 4,990,311;5,087,426; 5,835,840; 5,983,834; 6,094,549; 6,613,277; 6,632,407;20020030022; 20060096331; and references cited therein, which are all ofwhich are incorporated fully herein for all purposes); and foreignreferences EP 261987; WO 200151096; WO 2003089017; WO 2005021135. WO2005077425 and references cited therein, which are incorporated fullyherein for all purposes, teaches the use of ozone to descent huntersclothing and other personal effects to be worn or carried on a huntingtrip. In this case, the hunter, the clothing or personal effects areplaced in a container, a portable enclosure, or a special descentingcloset or room located, e.g., in a lodge or cabin in which the hunter isstaying. As soon as the hunter leaves the building and enters a vehicle,or passes a moving vehicle, or begins to sweat, any prior descenting isof little value.

Animals have an acute sense of smell and are capable of recognizing ahuman scent or any other scent that is not advantageous in thatenvironment at long distances. To avoid such recognition a hunter willattempt to stay down wind of the animal being hunted. Certain knownmethods used by hunters to trick animals are to mask the human odorutilizing a carbon spray or cover spray scents or an animal scent.Unfortunately the animal scents which are utilized, are obnoxious andlinger on the clothing for long periods of time and often do not maskout human scents. Some of the scents utilized include animal urine. Ahunter who is camping overnight does not desire the animal scents to becarried over to bedtime, home, car, etc.

There are other drawbacks in utilizing animal scents or any otherscents. The scent may attract a predator of the game which the hunter isnot hunting for which the hunter may not be prepared to encounter.Containers containing food, beverages, or any other substance emitscents readily recognizable to animals that may not be masked by animalscents or may not be natural to a given environment. Female hikers,campers, hunters, etc. can emit a readily recognizable scent to animalsfrom menstruation that may not be masked by animal scents. Also, theweapon used by the hunter has an odor recognizable by some animals whichcannot be disguised with a scent.

Fishermen have the problem of fish odor on their hands and clothes whichis difficult to remove. For fishermen camping overnight the fish odor isnot only undesirable because of the odor but can also attract animalssuch as bears which the fishermen is not prepared to meet.

Hunters have prepared their clothing before hand by washing to removeprior scents and/or human odor. The washing materials may also leave anodor. However, out in the field the hunter can sweat and permeate theclothing with a human scent. It would be desirable to deodorize clothingduring a hunt or while on a fishing trip.

Ozone has been used, inter alia, for decontaminating smoke from fires;decontaminating buildings; and for decolorizing denim garments. U.S.Pat. No. 5,833,740 discloses an apparatus for sterilizing bottlesutilizing ozone. The reference recognizes that ozone in large quantitiescan be harmful or irritating. Consequently, it was necessary to providemeans for decomposing the excess ozone and/or to cause its escape intothe atmosphere.

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent. Ozone has 150% of the oxidizingpotential of chlorine and twice the oxidizing potential of bromine.Ozone has been shown to be much more effective than chlorine with areaction time up to 10 times faster. Ozone also readily self-destructsinto simple diatomic oxygen due to its inherent instability. Ozoneoxidizes biological products and kills bacteria.

Catalytic ionization of air using ultraviolet light is known to producea mixture of ozone-containing hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions.Ionization devices which are used to eliminate smoke and odors are knownin the art to produce hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions, e.g. those usedin automobiles.

Thus, the need exists to develop effective systems and methods whichovercome the disadvantages and problems set forth above. The need alsoexists, recognized by the present inventors, to detect the transport ofcontraband and to train personnel and animals in such detection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses systems and methodsfor detecting the transport of things (e.g., material, items, and/orpersons) which are being transported with an operating oxidizing agentgenerator, e.g., but not limited to, such transport done in an efforteither to render the transport safer or done in an effort to avoiddetection of the materials, things, or persons being transported. Incertain aspects, such systems and methods according to the presentinvention include using a detection system to detect ozone, etc.,generated by an oxidizing agent generator being used in the transport ofsuch things. In one particular aspect, a portable handheld oxidantdetection device is used to detect the presence of oxidant levels whichare above normal.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, systems and methodsfor safely transporting things in a container with a descenter(descenting oxidizing agent) generator. A “descenter generator” can be aunit, apparatus, or device for producing descenter—oxidizing agentdescenter, ozone, ozone in various forms, e.g. ozone saturated inorganic solvent (see, e.g., Patent Application No. WO2005014113)oxidants, hydroxyl radicals, hydroperoxide radicals, negatively chargedmetal oxides (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,366), hydrogen peroxide,encapsulated ozone (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,861, metastableoxygen (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,330), activated ozone (see, e.g.,Patent Application WO1998019961), peracetic acid (see, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 5,942,438 and U.S. Application No. 20050057868), chlorine dioxide(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,438), oxygen and its radicals (see,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,361), thixotropic gels (see, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 6,455,751), singlet oxygen via ozone or via hydrogen peroxide (see,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,105), UV light at 254 nm which disinfects butdoes not produce ozone (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,105), UV light at185 nm which produces ozone (see, e.g., U.S. Application No.20030086818), ozone plus hydrogen peroxide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.7,407,624), hypochlorite (see, e.g., U.S. Application No. 20050057868),hydrogen peroxide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,241) and chlorite(see, e.g., U.S. Application No. 20070034095) (collectively referred toas “descenters”) and it can be inside and/or outside the container (and,in one aspect, in at least one layer or space between an inner chamberand the outside of the container). In one aspect, such a generatorproduces descenter, e.g. ozone or ozone etc. around a container toprovide a protective zone around the container.

In certain particular aspects of the present invention, a container isdehydrated (totally, partially, exterior only, interior only, bothexterior and interior, and/or a layer or space within a container isdehydrated) to amplify the effect of ozone, etc., applied to a containerwith an oxidizing agent generator. In one aspect, the container isdehydrated (e.g., with a dehydrator apparatus which, in one aspect, maybe a portable apparatus); with an electronic dehydrator; and/or withwater-absorbent material (e.g. silica, drirerite, ethylene glycol,diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and the like). In other particularaspects the effects of any system, apparatus, device or method accordingto the present invention are enhanced by dehydrating things, containers,vehicles and/or persons.

In certain particular aspects, the present invention discloses methodsfor reducing the injurious effects of contraband or of dangerousmaterials or substances on persons (or animals) encountering them. Inone particular aspect, the injurious effects of a substance or materialcontacting, taken in, or inhaled by a person (or animal) are reduced oreliminated by directing descenter, e.g. ozone etc., to the person (oranimal), which contacts, is taken in by, or is inhaled by the person.The inhaled ozone can take effect in the nose, mouth, nasal passages,lungs, respiratory tract, and blood of the person (or animal).

In another particular aspect, the injurious effects of a substance ormaterial contacting the skin of a person (or animal) are reduced oreliminated by directing descanter, e.g. ozone etc., to the skin of theperson (or animal). In one aspect, this is done until the person feelssome relief. For example, a person who has come into skin contact withpoison ivy can direct descanter to the skin and reduce or neutralize theeffects of the poison ivy onto the skin.

In certain aspects, systems and methods according to the presentinvention provide for the application of descenter, e.g., ozone etc. toan area, space, or zone in which narcotic and/or toxic substances aredetected to reduce or eliminate injurious effects of such substances onpersons, or animals nearby. In one particular aspect, the ozone etc. isapplied via air duct(s).

In certain aspects, systems and methods are provided according to thepresent invention which include the use of material (cloth, fabric,gauze, blanket, tarp, canvas, clothing, paper, cardboard, etc. made fromany known fabric or cloth material, including, but not limited tonatural fabrics, synthetic fibers and fabrics, plastic cloth material,plastic fabric material, and plastic flexible material) which hasdescenter, e.g. ozone etc., bound to it or which has absorbed ozone etc.A thing (to include an item, animal, or person) is wrapped, in whole orin part, in at least one layer of the material according to the presentinvention to prevent or render more difficult detection of the thing byhumans or by animals; or to reduce or eliminate the injurious effects(e.g., but not limited to, burns, rashes, bacteria, gangrene,irritation) of toxic materials or substances on the item, thing, animal,or person to reduce or eliminate the injurious effects of additionaltoxic materials or substances from contacting the person or animalhaving material wrapped or applied onto them. Such wrapping may also bedone according to the present invention to reduce body odor; to reduceairborne odors from a person or animal; or to wrap food.

In certain aspects, optionally, descenter bound to material changes thecolor of the material when descenter is bound to the material and/orchanges color when descenter is reduced from the material. This allows,for example, a visual detection by a person and/or by an instrument orby a detector that the material has descenter within or on the materialso that, for example, it can be determined when the material needs to berecharged with descenter or the material needs to be removed andreplaced with new material.

The present invention, in certain aspects, provides systems and methodsfor reducing or eliminating the various odors of contraband through theuse of ozone etc. or oxidant-based descenting products.

In certain aspects, the present invention discloses systems and methodsfor the training and detection, by service animals and their handlers,of the use of such systems and methods for reducing or eliminating thevarious odors of contraband through the use of descenting products ormaterials.

In certain aspects, the present invention discloses a method in whichdescenter, e.g. ozone etc., is unexpectedly used to conceal contrabandfrom humans, service animals and their handlers, the animals having beentrained to detect small amounts of odor from contraband that humanscannot generally detect. Additionally, the present invention discloses amethod in which a descenting system is used to traincontraband-detecting service animals to determine if a system, such asone according to the present invention, is being or has been used in anattempt to eliminate the scent of the contraband. Additionally, thepresent invention discloses methods in which the detection of descenter,e.g. ozone etc., to conceal contraband can be detected by the use ofhumans, service animals, handlers of service animals, and by detectingdevices.

The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses a method in whichonce the detection of descenter, e.g. ozone etc., to conceal contrabandis recognized, additional descenter, e.g. ozone etc., is applied toprevent adverse health effects to humans, animals, as well as physicaldamage to the property and to an area in which the contraband islocated.

The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses systems and methodswhich use gaseous descenter, e.g. ozone, to kill bacteria and reduce oreliminate odors emanating from humans, e.g. in breath or from skin, aswell as odors in clothing worn by a person that are volatilized into theair space between the human and the wildlife to prevent wildlife fromdetecting the presence of humans and/or to enhance encounters with andthe attraction of wildlife. One embodiment is directed to wearing orcarrying a portable generator while walking, waiting for, or engaging inattracting wildlife. Another embodiment is directed to wearing orcarrying a portable generator while engaging in an activity, e.g.walking, waiting for wildlife, or engaging in preventing wildlife fromdetecting the presence of humans. Another embodiment is directed toclothing incorporating or combined with descenter, e.g. ozone etc.,directing apparatus or devices. Yet another embodiment is directed tothe treatment of clothing—e.g. directly with descenter, e.g. ozone etc.,prior to or while being worn—to enhance the attraction of wildlife. Yetanother embodiment is directed to the use of gaseous descenter in oraround a tent, site, or blind to reduce or eliminate odors to enhancethe attraction of wildlife, e.g. for hunters, wildlife enthusiasts andwildlife photographers. Yet another embodiment is directed to the use ofgaseous descenter in or around a tent, site, or blind to reduce oreliminate odors to prevent the detection of humans by wildlife, e.g.,for hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife photographers.

The present invention discloses a method for deodorizing the clothingand apparatus of person, sportsmen, professional or non professional.More particularly, there are provided methods for reducing oreliminating human scent or any other foreign scent from clothing etc.;and there are provided methods for removing human scent or any otherforeign scent (collectively “foreign scents”) from items and/orclothing, e.g. clothing used by hunters before or during a hunt—throughthe use of descenter, e.g. ozone or hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ionsproduced by ionization, in a manner that would not cause irritation orinjury to the user or equipment. Also, there is provided a method forremoving fish odor from fishermen and their clothing and equipment whilein the field including lures, tackle boxes and containers. One principalobjective of the invention is the provision of a method for effectivelyremoving human scent from clothing used by sportsmen.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a method formilitary personnel to escape detection by other humans or by scentanimals (e.g., scent dogs). In certain particular aspects the presentinvention provides methods for reducing or eliminating human or anyother foreign scent from items, e.g. from clothing and equipment, usedby military personnel desiring to evade detection or capture—through theuse of descenter, e.g., ozone etc. and/or ozone with hydroxyl andhydroperoxide ions produced by ionization, in a manner that would notcause irritation or injury to the user or equipment.

It is another object of the invention to use descenter to deodorize fishodor on fishermen.

It is yet another object of the invention to de-scent or deodorizesportsmen while out in the field by the use of descenter, e.g. ozone orhydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method ofdeodorizing clothing with descenter, e.g. ozone etc., so that it willnot cause irritation or harm.

It is a further object of the invention to provide descenter, e.g. ozoneetc., in a compressed or generated form in a hand held container forapplication in the field by sportsmen.

For safety reasons, government regulations have recommended, andsometimes regulated, the amount of ozone to which a human is to beexposed. For example, OSHA requires that employee permissible exposurelimit (PEL) as an eight hour time-weighted average value of 0.1 ppmozone in air. The OSHA short term exposure limit (STEL) is 0.3 ppm overa 15 minute period, not to be repeated more than two times in an eighthour period. Prolonged exposure of humans has produced no apparent illeffects at 0.2 ppm. In a variety of embodiments of the presentinvention, a human being is exposed to ozone generated by an ozonegenerator. In any such embodiments the human being may be limited toexposure to ozone in a concentration of 0.2 parts per million (or less).In any such embodiment, in certain aspects, in which the human being isto be exposed to ozone for a time period of up to about 8 hours (about 8hours or less), the ozone concentration is limited to 0.1 parts permillion (or less). In any such embodiment, a desired level of ozoneconcentration to which the human being is exposed is maintained in aspace of a desired size around the human being, e.g., in certainaspects, a desired level of ozone is maintained within about a 6 footradius of the human being (and, in one aspect, at an ozone concentrationlevel of 0.2 ppm or less and, in another aspect, at an ozoneconcentration of 0.1 ppm or less).

In certain aspects the descenting material generators used in systemsand methods according to the present invention are light weight andportable, and powered by battery means, solar means, hand crank means(e.g., but not limited to, for instances in which one carries smallamounts of contraband on one's person or in a small container orsuitcase) or other generating means. When the contraband is in a largercontainer, such as building, a room, truck container or automobile, orwhen larger amounts of contraband are involved, it is preferable to havethe same features. Nevertheless, even when large amounts of contrabandare involved, it is still preferable to use the smallest, low weightgenerators possible that will effectively descent the contraband, asthese may be better hidden from visual detection. However, generatorsweighing up to about 8 lbs. and more may still be used.

One advantage of including at least a small fan (and such can beincluded with any system or method according to the present invention)is that the descenter, e.g. ozone etc., can be dispersed over a largearea more readily. However, it is not necessary that a fan be includedin the descenting material generator. For example, when treating alarger area like a truck container, especially if the container is fullof contraband, or contains a smaller amount of contraband hidden withina larger amount of legal cargo, a generator having a fan or fan bloweris preferred, but not required. If a fan or fan blower is used, a fancan be used which makes minimum noise, especially beyond about a tenfoot radius of fan operation so as not to be audibly detected by ahuman, handler or service animal.

Certain descenting material generators are capable of producingapproximately 15-5000 mg and more, per hour. For safety consideration,it is desired that the contraband is exposed to a constant concentrationof 0.1 ppm of descenter, e.g. ozone, or less in such a concentrationover an 8 hour time period or less, especially when the contraband is ahuman or animal, however, exposures of contraband to largerconcentrations, e.g., up to 0.2 ppm ozone and more, may be desirable toeffectively mask contraband having high odors, such as marijuana andfruits. A preferred descenting material generator is one which canmaintain about 0.1 ppm or less total ambient concentration of ozone overan area of approximately a six foot radius of the contraband.

In certain aspects, the present invention discloses a method forreducing contraband scent in a space between the contraband and theservice animal, the methods including generating descenting materialwith a material descenting generator, introducing the descentingmaterial into a space between a human being and the service animal, thespace containing foreign scent (i.e., odor emanating from thecontraband), and reducing the foreign scent in the space with thedescenting material. In certain embodiments, the descenting material isozone and the method further includes exposing the contraband to atime-weighted average value of 0.1 ppm of ozone in ambient air or lessover an area within a radius of six feet of the contraband; exposing thecontraband to a time-weighted value of 0.2 ppm or ozone in ambient airor less; or exposing the contraband over a time period of eight hours orless to a time-weighted value of 0.1 ppm of ozone in ambient air orless.

In other aspects, the present invention discloses a method for reducingforeign scent in a space between contraband and the service animal, themethods including producing descenting material with a materialdescenting generator with directional apparatus, directing saiddescenting material in a desired direction into the space, thedirectional apparatus including at least one director in communicationwith the generator for receiving produced descenting material from thegenerator and for directing said descenting material into the space, andreducing the foreign scent (i.e., the odor emanating from thecontraband) in the space with the descenting material. In certainembodiments, the descenting material is ozone and the method furtherincludes exposing the contraband to a time-weighted average value of 0.1ppm of ozone in ambient air or less over an area within a radius of sixfeet of the contraband; exposing the contraband to a time-weighted valueof 0.2 ppm or ozone in ambient air or less; or exposing the contrabandover a time period of eight hours or less to a time-weighted value of0.1 ppm of ozone in ambient air or less.

For humans that are avoiding an encounter with a service animal, e.g.,those attempting to conceal only small amounts of contraband past ahandler or law enforcement officer, a small battery-powered descentingmaterial generator, such as the BIOZONE Model 50 Personal Air Purifier,can be used. For persons attempting to conceal contraband for anextended period, e.g., an hour or more, a larger ozone generator, suchas the BIOZONE SCIENTIFIC TRAVELAIRE generator, the OMZ-200 generatorfrom Ozone Solutions or the Ozonics HR-100 ozonator from Ozonics, can beused. For those engaging in concealing larger amounts of contraband,descenting material generator, such as the Ozonics HR-100 ozonator fromOzonics, can be used. Alternatively, the OZONE SOLUTIONS Model MZ-450 orthe OZONE SOLUTIONS OMZ-3400 can be used. The MZ-450 and OMZ-3400 areprimarily suited for 110V A/C operation, but can alternatively beoperated with for four or more hours on a single battery charge. Foreven higher amounts of ozone output, descenting material generatorscurrently sold by EcoQuest International of Greeneville, Tenn., whichalso sells generators of hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions, may bepreferred.

In certain embodiments according to the present invention, material orclothing is treated with descenter, e.g. ozone etc., so that descenter,e.g. ozone etc., is retained on the material, e.g. for several hoursand, in certain aspects, for up to hours, and in other embodiments formore than 24 hours. Retained descenter continues to descent scents (and,in some aspects, kill or reduce harmful bacteria and/or toxins), whichcome in contact with the descenter. A variety of material and cloths,including, but not limited to knits, gauze, fleeces, cotton cloth,cotton blended cloth, fibrous cloth, and rough cloths, have retainedozone. In other embodiments treatment with ozone temporarily changes thecolor of colored material or cloth and then, after some time period(e.g., when the material or cloth is contacted with odors, bacteria, ortoxins), the cloth or material returns to its original color. This colorchange indicates that an item of material or clothing has been treatedwith descenter, e.g. ozone etc.; that it is retaining some descenterthereon; and the change back to an original color indicates descenter isreduced and/or is no longer being retained on the clothing to reduce oreliminate odors, bacteria and/or toxins coming in contact with the clothor material. “Color” refers to any color (e.g., but not limited to,white, red, green, blue, yellow, orange, violet, black, purple, brown,etc.). Such a change in color can be permanent, or preferably isreversible when recontacted with additional oxidant (e.g. ozone).

Accordingly, the present invention includes features and advantageswhich are believed to enable it to advance descenting technology.Characteristics and advantages of the present invention described aboveand additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments and referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. Inaddition to the specific objects stated below for at least certainpreferred embodiments of the invention, there are other objects andpurposes which will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art whohas the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is,therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of thepresent invention to provide:

New, useful unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods fordetecting the transport of certain material, things, animals or personsand, in one aspect, detecting if such transport is being done or hasbeen done with descenter, e.g. ozone etc., from an oxidizing agentgenerator;

Such systems and methods in which a transported item, thing, material,or person or a container for such is dehydrated;

New, useful unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods fordetecting transportation of an item, thing, material or person beingtransported with an operating oxidizing agent generator;

New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious methods and systems forenhancing encounters with or the attraction of animals (including, butnot limited to, human beings);

Such systems and methods including the treatment of clothing and otheritems with descenter, e.g. ozone etc.;

Such systems and methods including wearing descenter directingapparatuses;

New useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods forreducing foreign scent in a space between a human being and an animal;

New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious methods and systems forsubstantially reducing or eliminating the odor or scent (collectively“odor”) of contraband;

New useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods forteaching service animals and their handlers to detect the use of suchsystems and methods on contraband;

New useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods to protectthe health and property of humans and animals exposed to toxins and/orcontraband;

New useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods to protectthe health and property of humans and animals exposed to contrabandcontained in water and soil; and

New useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious systems and methods to protectthe health and property of humans and animals exposed to airborne toxinsand/or contraband.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particularindividual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of themdistinguished from the prior art in their structures, functions, and/orresults achieved. Features of the invention have been broadly describedso that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood,and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may bebetter appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of theinvention described below and which may be included in the subjectmatter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art whohave the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions willappreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as acreative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems forcarrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of thisinvention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices ormethods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentionedproblems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problemsand a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possibleembodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who hasthe benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures,and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated fromthe following description of certain preferred embodiments, given forthe purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intendedto thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter howothers may later disguise it by variations in form, changes, oradditions of further improvements.

The Abstract that is part hereof is to enable the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office and the public generally, and scientists, engineers,researchers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar withpatent terms or legal terms of phraseology to determine quickly from acursory inspection or review the nature and general area of thedisclosure of this invention. The Abstract is neither intended to definethe invention, which is done by the claims, nor is it intended to belimiting of the scope of the invention in any way.

It will be understood that the various embodiments of the presentinvention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed, described,and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical advantages and/orelements in claims to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

A more particular description of embodiments of the invention brieflysummarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which areshown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. Thesedrawings illustrate embodiments preferred at the time of filing for thispatent and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of theinvention which may have other equally effective or legally equivalentembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing use of systems according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially cutaway, of a system useful inmethods according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially cutaway, of a system useful inmethods according to the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a side view of the system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B is an open front view of the system of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a front perspective view of a system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10B is an unfolded cross-section view of the system of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a container according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 12A is a front cross-section view of a container according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 12B is a top cross-section view of the container of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is a cross-section view of a container according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 14A is a schematic view of a vehicle with things therein wrappedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 14B is a schematic view of an airplane with things therein wrappedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a blanket according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of use of a blanket according to thepresent invention with a person.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of use of a blanket according to thepresent invention with an animal.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of use of a wrap according to the presentinvention with a thing.

Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the above-identifiedfigures and described in detail below. Various aspects and features ofembodiments of the invention are described below and some are set out inthe dependent claims. Any combination of aspects and/or featuresdescribed below or shown in the dependent claims can be used exceptwhere such aspects and/or features are mutually exclusive. It should beunderstood that the appended drawings and description herein are ofcertain embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention or theappended claims. On the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In showingand describing these embodiments, like or identical reference numeralsare used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are notnecessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of thefigures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in theinterest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout all the various portions (and headings) ofthis patent, the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variationsthereof mean one or more embodiments, and are not intended to mean theclaimed invention of any particular appended claim(s) or all of theappended claims. Accordingly, the subject or topic of each suchreference is not automatically or necessarily part of, or required by,any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference. So long asthey are not mutually exclusive or contradictory any aspect or featureor combination of aspects or features of any embodiment disclosed hereinmay be used in any other embodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

“Person” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, traveler,animal handler, medical patient, government employee, governmentemployee at a border, government employee at a customs office,policeman, military personnel, military personnel seeking to evadeothers and/or avoid capture, inspector, law enforcement officer, andhunters.

“Hunter” is defined as including hunters of wild game and other animalsand also includes nature enthusiasts, trappers, hikers, fishermen andfisherwomen, backpackers, and photographers; and “hunt” or “hunting” isdefined as including the searching for and the hunting of wild game andother animals for the purposes of encountering, attracting, avoiding,escaping from, photographing, avoiding detection by, capturing, killingand/or observing them.

“Animal” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, any small orlarge game animal including deer, elk, sheep, pig, moose, cow, bull,human being, steer, dog, cat, caribou, bird, rabbit, elephant, mountainlions, bear and fish, and combinations thereof and, in certain aspects,“animal” includes human beings. For example, a human may desire toprevent the detection of human body odors or odors resulting from theillegal transport of humans or from the human consumption of variousfoods and/or spices (e.g., pepper or curry) and/or beverages by thehuman himself or herself or by another human.

“Blind” as used herein includes any natural or man-made place ofobserving, hiding and/or protecting a person including, but not limitedto, a tent, shack, tree stand, shrubs, cut limbs, rocks, place forprotection from natural elements, and combinations thereof.

“Handler” is a police officer, narcotics officer, game warden, customsofficer, border patrol agent, security officer, animal trainer, lawenforcement officer, civilian and the like, that uses a service animalto detect material, things, and/or contraband.

“Service animal” is any animal, such as a human, dog, cat, bird, pig,fish, dolphin and the like, that is capable of being trained to detectcontraband.

“Contraband” is any substance that is illegal to possess or transportunder the law or regulations of any sovereign country or entity, andwhich, in some cases, is the subject of or maintains a black market,such as illegal drugs, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, apples,oranges, pineapples, bananas, explosives, plastiques, radioactivematerials and wastes, toxins (e.g. ricin), gun powder, exotic birds,reptiles, fish, mammals, humans and paper currency (both genuine andcounterfeit). Contraband also includes toxins and biologicalagents/weapons such as: viruses, germs, bacteria, allergens, pathogens,cyanide (e.g. HCN, KCN), phosgene, tear gas, mustard gas, anthrax,botulinum toxin, aflatoxin, Salmonella Typhimurium, Ascaris suum, B.anthracis, ricin, plague, smallpox and more such as is described in theDepartment of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control andPrevention Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal,

“Potential Biological Weapons Threats”, located athttp://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/kortepeter.htm.

“Descenting material generator” includes generators that producedescenter, e.g., ozone etc. material as a gas, a fine mist, a spray withsolids, or some combination thereof that is capable of descenting humanscents, and/or of killing or reducing germs and/or bacteria, ordescenting and/or masking and/or reacting with contraband; the materialsincluding, but not limited to, oxidants, ozone, hydroxyl radicals,hydroperoxides, and other known descenting materials; with or without anoperating integrated fan. A “mist” produced by such a generator is amist of descenting material and a liquid, e.g. water or organic-solventmaterial (e.g. alcohols like methanol or ethanol or isopropanol orglycol ether, e.g. ethylene glycol methyl ether and ethylene glycoldimethylether) that is capable of solubilizing descenting material.

FIG. 11 shows a system 200 according to the present invention whichincludes an enclosure 201 which, in certain aspects is a container, cab,enclosed trailer or storage part of a vehicle V. Within the enclosure201 is at least one or a plurality of things 202 being transported inthe enclosure 201 (e.g., but not limited to material, items, animalsand/or persons).

In one aspect, a detector 210 (for detecting descenter, e.g. ozone etc.)is used to detect the presence of an abnormally high level of descenter,e.g., ozone etc., in and/or around the enclosure 201 (generated, e.g. byan on-board generator 208 and/or 209) which can indicate efforts totransport the thing(s) 202 in a manner to inhibit or prevent thedetection of the thing(s) 202 by an animal trained to smell such things.Alternatively, or in addition to the use of the detector 210, a personPR may, according to the present invention, use a handheld or portabledetector 214 for detecting the presence of descenter, e.g., ozone, etc.Optionally, a detector 212 is used within the enclosure 201 to detect alevel of ozone etc. or an abnormally high level of ozone, etc.

The detector 210 may have a probe or tube to allow for poking the probeor tube into various depths of the container to detect the presence ofabnormally high levels of descenter (e.g. ozone, etc.). The detector mayoptionally also have an input at, in, or very near the detector 210 toalso measure ambient descenter (e.g. ozone, etc.) levels so that adifference of ambient level versus an abnormally higher level can bebetter compared and detected.

In order to nullify or ameliorate injurious effects of exposure to thething(s) 202 (and/or to air carrying air-borne particles, pieces, orparts of the thing(s) 202), an optional generator 230 is provided,according to the present invention, to produce additional oxidizingagent and provide it to the interior of the enclosure 201 and/or topersonnel either within the enclosure 201 or on the outside thereof.Optionally, the generator 208 is provided within the enclosure 201 togenerate descenter, e.g. ozone, etc., within the container and/oroptionally in at least one zone between the inside of the container andthe outside of the container.

To facilitate detection of an abnormally high level of descenter, e.g.,ozone, etc., a door, hatch, or closure 206 is opened so that air canpass freely through an opening 204 to ventilate the enclosure 201 foraccurate sensing and readings. To further facilitate air flow, a fan 220directs air to circulate into and out of the enclosure 201.

A control system 216 [e.g. but not limited to a PLC, desktopcomputer(s), and/or laptop computer(s) with appropriate screen(s),printer(s), etc.] is in communication with each detector, generator, andfan to receive signals indicative of ozone levels, provide informationto an operator, and provide automatic and/or manual control of eachdetector, generator, and fan.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide an enclosurewhich optionally contains at least one zone, space, layer or areabetween the inside and outside of the container where descenter (e.g.ozone, etc.) is contained. In this way, the contents of the container ora thing being transported is less exposed to the oxidant, but still odorfrom the thing is adequately reduced so escape from the container viathe walls (top, bottom and sides) of the container is reduced. Further,optionally at least part of the container is made of descenter absorbingmaterial, that optionally has the ability to change color to indicatewhen descenter is present and/or reduce and needing additional descenterto be effective against odor, germs, bacteria and other effects on thecontainer and contents of the container.

FIG. 12 shows a container 250 according to the present invention whichhas one or more things 254 contained in an interior 252 of the container250. A generator 256 provides descenter, e.g., ozone etc. within thecontainer 250 around the thing(s) 254. Optionally (or instead of thegenerator 256), another generator 258 is provided exterior to thecontainer 250 for generating descenter, e.g., ozone etc. (e.g. fordiminishing the effects of airborne parts of the things 254 and/or forthe protection of personnel near the container 250). Optionally, and asis true for any enclosure or container according to the presentinvention, the container 250 may have a space 250 a which encompassesthe container's interior and which has therein descenter 250 b, e.g.,ozone or ozone etc., which is prevented from reacting with the contentsof the container.

In one aspect, a dehydration apparatus 255 is provided within thecontainer 250 to dehydrate the interior 252 thereby enhancing theeffects of the descenter, e.g. ozone, etc. provided by the generator 256(and/or the generator 258). Optionally (or instead of the apparatus255), a dehydration apparatus 259 is provided outside the container 250for the same purposes. In any of the spaces, zones, or layers of anyenclosure described herein, such a space, zone, or layer may bedehydrated according to the present invention.

Ventilation can be provided for the container 250 as it is for theenclosure 201 (and ventilation can be provided for any space, zone,area, or layer of any enclosure or container according to the presentinvention).

Optionally, a cooling system 251 (inside) and/or a cooling system 253(outside) are provided to cool the container 250 and/or its contents(and such cooling can be provided for any space, zone, area, or layer ofany enclosure or container according to the present invention). Coolingdiminishes perspiration and odor vaporization.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a container 260 according to the presentinvention which is a cube. A thing 264 is contained in a cube-shapedchamber 263 within the container 260. A cube-shaped interior space 261completely encompasses the chamber 263. The space 261 has descenter 262(e.g., but not limited to, ozone or ozone etc.) therein.

FIG. 12C shows a container 265 according to the present invention whichis a sphere. A thing 269 is contained in a spherical chamber 268 withinthe container 265. Surrounding the chamber 268 is a space 266 withdescenter 267 therein. The descenter 267 is, e.g., but not limited to,ozone or ozone etc. Any container according to the present invention(including, but not limited to, any room or enclosed space or any shownin FIGS. 11, 12A, 12C and 14A) may have any of the items, systems,and/or apparatuses shown in FIG. 12 (those inside the container and/orthose outside it).

FIG. 13 shows a structure 270 with multiple rooms 270 a, 270 b, 270 c,and 270 d. At least one room or each room has a detector 271 fordetecting a level of descenter, e.g., ozone etc. and/or oxidizing agentin the room and, optionally, one room or each room has a generator 272for generating descenter, e.g., ozone etc., within the room. Optionally,(in addition to or instead of the generators 272) a generator 273provides ozone, etc. to all rooms. Optionally corridors 270 e and 270 fhave an oxidizing agent generator 274 and/or a detector 275. A detector276 is, optionally, provided outside the structure 270 for detecting alevel of ozone, etc. and, optionally, a person PN may use a handheld orportable detector 277.

Optionally, a room or each room has a dehydration apparatus 278 (orapparatuses). An air processing unit 279 provides heated and/or cooledair to the structure; to one, some or all rooms; and/or to one or allcorridors. The unit 279 may include a fan 279 a or the unit 279 may bedeleted and the fan 279 a provided as a separate item. A detector 271 amay be provided on or adjacent the unit 279 (and/or fan 279 a).

A control system 280 (e.g. like the control system 216) is incommunication with and in control of each operational item and apparatusin FIG. 13.

In one method according to the present invention, a normal ambient levelof descenter, e.g. ozone etc., or an abnormally low or high level isdetected in the room 270 c by the detector 271. The detector 271 sends asignal to the control system 280. The control system 280 stops all airflow to and from the room 270 c (and, in one aspect, to and from theother rooms and corridors). In one aspect, if the detector detects anabnormally low drop in ozone level (indicating that a toxic, foreign orcontraband substance has entered the room and is reacting with theambient ozone in the room, the control system 280 stops all air flow toand from the room 270 c (and, in one aspect, to and from the other roomsand corridors). In another method, a sensor senses an injurious agentwithin the room 270 b. The sensor can be an ozone detector, aradioactive material sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological sensor,and/or any sensor that is capable of detecting a foreign, especiallycontraband, substance). The control system 280 isolates the room 270 b;turns on the generator 272 to provide descenter, e.g. ozone, etc., intothe room 270 b; and, optionally, turns on the dehydration apparatus 278.Optionally, cool air is provided into the room 270 b with the unit 279and/or the generator 273 is turned on to provide ozone, etc outside theroom 270 b. In one aspect, when it is determined that the descenter haslowered the contraband levels to a safe level (e.g. by means of anydetector), the room is optionally vented (preferably to the atmosphere,but possibly to a storage container). The room(s) may be furthersubjected to one or more additional additions of descenter if necessary.Any room air and/or material that is sent to a container may be furthertreated with oxidant or any other means and/or disposed of properly.

In any structure, enclosure, container, system, or method describedabove, ozone, etc. may be provided to reduce dust in air in thestructure, etc.

Ozone generators of all sizes, weights, power sources and types arewidely available from sources such as Sharper Image(www.sharperimage.com), Biozone Scientific (www.biozonescientific.com),Ozone Solutions (www.ozoneapplications.com) and Air Zone(www.aaaozone.com). Optionally, the ozone generator contains anadditional ion generator source for negative ionization of the air.These type of units are commercially available, e.g. IONIC BREEZE(Trademark) products from Sharper Image. Optionally, the ozone generatoris of the type that includes atomized water or hydrogen peroxide toproduce highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Such generators aredisclosed, e.g., in Japanese patent references JP11-00948A;JP11-009949A; JP2003001/237A2; JP11-226108A; and JP 11-226106A.Optionally, the ozone generator can include the simultaneous orintermittent generation of other known oxidizing agents, bacteria andodor removing substances such as chlorine, zinc ricinoleate and/orcyclodextrine, e.g. as contained in FEBREEZE (Trademark) fabricsoftener. For hunting purposes it is preferable that the unit be lightweight, portable, and battery and/or solar power operated and/or with ahand crank generator, e.g., when walking to a hunt. When hunting from astationary location, such as blind or tent, it is preferable to have thesame features, but if a portable generator or source of AC electricpower is available, then ozone generators having this capability arealso preferred. When hunting from a blind or a tent, it is stillpreferred to use low weight generators since the generator often needsto be transported, e.g., carried from a lodge, cabin or vehicle, e.g. toa watching or hunting location; but generators weighing up to about 8lbs. and more may also be used. In general, light weight ozonegenerators produce lower levels of ozone and generate ozone for ashorter period of time, especially when small batteries such as size A,AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt batteries are used. However, many batteryoperated portable ozone generators last eight hours and more on onebattery charge. The ozone etc. generation source can be of any typeincluding a UV light sources, electrical discharge, or combination ofboth. Certain portable, battery-operated and solar-operated ozone etc.generators have UV light as the ozone generator source due mainly to thelower voltage required for UV lamps. Larger generators capable ofoperating on AC current can be UV lamp, electrical discharge or acombination of both. Electrical discharge ozone generators can becapable of generating larger amounts of ozone in a smaller sizecontainer, but adding blowers, fans and transformers (which is withinthe scope of the present invention) can result in some generators beingheavier than generators having UV lamps. Small, portable battery andsolar operated ozone etc. generators are available which have smallfans, though many have no fan at all. One advantage of including atleast a small fan is that the ozone etc. can be dispersed over a largerarea more readily, but it is not necessary that a fan be included in theozone generator.

When treating a larger area, e.g. an area with or full of contraband, orcontaining a smaller amount of contraband hidden within a larger amountof legal cargo, an ozone etc. generator having a fan or fan blower ispreferred, but not required. If a fan or fan blower is used, a fan canbe used which makes minimum noise, especially beyond about a ten footradius of fan operation so as not to be audibly detected by a human,handler or service animal.

For treating a larger area like a room or tent, especially when two ormore persons occupy it, a generator having a fan or fan blower ispreferred, but not required. If a fan or fan blower is used, a fan canbe used which makes minimum noise, especially beyond about a ten footradius of fan operation (e.g, but not limited to, so as not to spook ananimal, e.g. a deer).

Certain ozone generators are capable of producing 15 mg and up to 5,000mg/hr of ozone and more. For safety consideration, in certainembodiments of the present invention a person is exposed to a constantconcentration of 0.1 ppm ozone or less and, in one aspect, such aconcentration over an 8 hour time period or less; but exposures tolarger concentrations up to 0.2 ppm ozone and more over short periods oftime can be tolerated by most humans. One preferred ozone generator isone which can maintain about 0.1 ppm or less total ambient concentrationof ozone etc. over an area of approximately a six foot radius of ahuman.

In other aspects, the present invention provides for a method forreducing foreign scent in a space between contraband and the serviceanimal, the methods including producing descenting material with amaterial descenting generator with directional apparatus, directing saiddescenting material in a desired direction into the space, thedirectional apparatus including at least one director in communicationwith the generator for receiving produced descenting material from thegenerator and for directing said descenting material into the space, andreducing the foreign scent (i.e., the odor emanating from thecontraband) in the space with the descenting material. In certainembodiments, the descenting material is ozone and the method furtherincludes exposing the contraband to a time-weighted average value of 0.1ppm of ozone in ambient air or less over an area within a radius of sixfeet of the contraband; exposing the contraband to a time-weighted valueof 0.2 ppm or ozone in ambient air or less; or exposing the contrabandover a time period of eight hours or less to a time-weighted value of0.1 ppm of ozone in ambient air or less.

For humans that are avoiding an encounter with a service animal for aleisure manner, e.g., those attempting to conceal only small amounts ofcontraband past a handler or law enforcement officer, a smallbattery-powered descenting material generator, such as the BIOZONE Model50 Personal Air Purifier, can be used. For persons attempting to concealcontraband for an extended period, e.g., an hour or more, a larger ozonegenerator, such as the BIOZONE SCIENTIFIC TRAVELAIRE generator, theOMZ-200 generator from Ozone Solutions or the Ozonics HR-100 ozonatorfrom Ozonics, can be used. For those engaging in concealing largeramounts of contraband, descenting material generator, such as theOzonics HR-100 ozonator from Ozonics, can be used. Alternatively, theOZONE SOLUTIONS Model MZ-450 or the OZONE SOLUTIONS OMZ-3400 can beused. The MZ-450 and OMZ-3400 are primarily suited for 110V A/Coperation, but can alternatively be operated with for four or more hourson a single battery charge. For even higher amounts of ozone output,descenting material generators currently sold by EcoQuest Internationalof Greeneville, Tenn., which also sells generators of hydroxyl andhydroperoxide ions, may be preferred.

As battery technology improves, it may be possible to operate high ozoneconcentration descenting material generators with batteries that weighmuch less. The use of ozone can quickly reduce or eliminate odors(including human odors), volatiles and contaminates (all collectivelyreferred to as “foreign scents”) on a person, the person's clothing orequipment and in the space between the person and a service animal orhandler.

In certain aspects the present invention provides methods for reducingforeign scent in a space between a human being and an animal, themethods including generating descenting material with a generator,introducing the descenting material into a space between a human beingand an animal, the space containing foreign scent, and reducing theforeign scent in the space with the descenting material. In certainembodiments, the descenting material is ozone etc. and, in oneparticular aspect, the method further includes: exposing the human beingto a time-weighted average value of 0.1 ppm ozone in air or less over anarea within a radius of six feet of the human being; exposing the humanbeing to a time-weighted value of 0.2 ppm ozone in air or less; orexposing the human being over a time period of eight hours or less to atime-weighted value of 0.1 ppm ozone in air or less. In other aspectsthe present invention provides methods for reducing foreign scent in aspace between a human being and an animal, the methods includingproducing descenting material with a generator, with directionapparatus, directing said descenting material in a desired directioninto the space, the direction apparatus including at least one directorin communication with the generator for receiving produced descentingmaterial from the generator and for directing said descenting materialinto the space, and reducing the foreign scent in the space with thedescenting material. In certain embodiments of such methods thedescenting material is ozone and the method further includes: exposingthe human being to a time-weighted average value of 0.1 ppm ozone in airor less over an area within a radius of about six feet of the humanbeing; exposing the human being to a time-weighted average value of 0.2ppm ozone in air or less; or exposing the human being over a time periodof eight hours or less to an ozone concentration of a time-weightedaverage value of 0.1 ppm ozone in air or less. For humans that arepursuing an encounter with an animal in a leisure manner, e.g. thosehunting and producing only small amounts of odor via sweat and lighterbreathing, a small battery generated ozone generator like the BIOZONEModel 50 Personal Air Purifier capable of operating on four C batteriescan be used. For persons engaging in an animal-encounter activity, e.g.photography or hunting, for an extended period, e.g. an hour, two hours,three hours, four hours, or more hours, a larger ozone generator such asthe BIOZONE SCIENTIFIC TRAVELAIRE (Trademark) generator weighing about 8oz. or an OMZ-200 (Trademark) generator from Ozone Solutions weighingabout 12 oz. and operating only with larger batteries or AC can be used.For those engaging in mostly stationary activity, e.g. hunting outdoorsor in a tent or blind, then an ozone generator such as the OZONESOLUTIONS Model MZ-450 can be used which is capable of deodorizing 2,000sq. ft. with it's 450 mg/hr ozone generation and 61 cfm (cubic feet perminute) fan, or a 6 lb. OZONE SOLUTIONS OMZ-3400 having a 3,400 mg ozoneoutput and 34 cfm fan can be used. The MZ-450 and OMZ-3400 are primarilysuited for 110V operation, but can be operated with larger batteriese.g. batteries currently weighing about 4 lbs. and capable of operatingfor four or more hours on a single battery charge. As battery technologyimproves, it may be possible to operate high ozone concentrationgenerators with batteries that weigh much less.

The use of ozone etc. can quickly reduce or eliminate odors (includinghuman odors), volatiles, bacteria, and contaminates (all collectivelyreferred to as “foreign scents”) on a person or his or her clothing andequipment and in the space between the person and an animal that may bealerting wildlife to the presence of a human. The ozone is cleanlyreduced to oxygen. The many uses of ozone that are known to killbacteria, eliminate smoke and react with alcohols, esters, saturatedorganics, acyclics, aromatic, heterocyclics and more to purify the airfor healthier human consumption are used in certain methods according tothis invention not to purify the air for human breathing, e.g. for ahunter normally in a very clean outdoor environment, but to react withodors emitted by humans so that these volatiles are not detected by ananimal, e.g. a deer. Since ozone has a half-life of minutes, airborneunreacted ozone still continues to clean bacteria, odors or clothing. Inaddition, any gear that has odor emanating from the gear is alsocleaned. Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that in oneaspect, ozone in the air kills bacteria in certain body areas,including, but not limited to, in the underarm and groin areas that isresponsible for producing many of the odor-causing volatiles emitted byhumans; and in another aspect, any volatile odors that are produced andemitted directly by humans via the skin are oxidized by the ozone intocompounds that are much less volatile and therefore far less detectableto animals, e.g. deer. In another aspect, it is believed that anyvolatile odors that are produced and emitted directly by humans via thefeet and escape through the shoe or socks are oxidized by the ozone intocompounds that are much less volatile and therefore far less detectableto deer. In yet another aspect, it is believed that the more powerful(but much shorter life-time) hydroxyl and/or hydroperoxide radicaloxidants that are produced by ozone reacting with ultraviolet rays ofthe sun and/or the UV lamp of an ozone generator and/or moisture in theair contribute to odor elimination.

In yet another aspect, it is believed that any pheromone or combinationsof pheromones (which contain a wide variety of alcohol, ester, andsaturated organic functionality) that are produced and emitted by humansat levels far to small to be detectable by humans but not by animals,e.g. deer, are oxidized by the ozone into compounds that are much lessvolatile and therefore far less detectable to animals, e.g. deer. In yetanother aspect, it is believed that odorants in breath such asaldehydes, alcohols and acids are oxidized by the ozone into compoundsthat are much less volatile and therefore far less detectable toanimals, e.g. deer. In yet another aspect, it is believed that it ispossible that oxidized volatiles, even if they are still somewhatvolatile and detected by animals, e.g. deer, are changed enough incomposition that the animals, e.g. deer, no longer detects the oxidizedvolatiles as human.

In yet another aspect, it is believed that it is possible that higherlevels of ozone in the environment around animals, e.g. deer, overpowersany human volatile such that the animals, e.g. deer, perceive the higherconcentration of ozone as the result of commonly-occurring and naturallightning that may be miles away from the animals, e.g. deer.

Prior to descenting of clothes, use of special soaps, shampoos andcarbon and/or metal containing clothing, or combinations of these isoptional, but not necessary, when using ozone for animal encounters,e.g. hunting. There is no limitation to the number of ozone generatorsused except for taking the precaution of not allowing a person to comeinto contact with an unsafe amount of ozone that affects human health.For cost and convenience, one ozone generator located on or near aperson is sufficient. Multiple generators located on a person, near aperson as the person is walking, inside a blind, outside of a blind, andcombinations thereof, may result in an especially enjoyable activity,e.g. a hunt.

The ozone generator or generators are, in one aspect, locatedapproximately 1-2 feet above a person's head. It is within the scope ofthe present invention to locate an ozone generator at a person's feet ornear any part of a person's body. Heights greater than about five feetabove the head may be used, but it is possible that too much dispersionof the ozone results in less ozone contacting and then eliminating odorsemanating from a person to effectively prevent an animal from detectinga human or to attract an animal. In certain aspects, an ozone generatoris placed in a position that is substantially upwind of a person, e.g. ahunter, and slightly elevated above the person's head such that theozone effectively contacts and then reduces or eliminates odorsemanating from the person. A descenter generator can also be hiddenunder clothes, or stored in luggage, a briefcase, or a backpack etc. ifdesired.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in one embodiment 10 of systems and methodsaccording to the present invention an ozone generator G is located on aperson P in a blind B, e.g. a hunter, especially when the person iswalking to an activity site, e.g. a hunt site or engaged in an activity,e.g. hunting. The person P is wearing clothes C which may be any typicalclothing or which may be any clothing disclosed herein according to thepresent invention.

Optionally the blind B has an interior ozone generator N and/or anexterior ozone generator R. Optionally an ozone generator T is placedoutside the blind B. The person P may be outside the blind B. The blindmay be a fabricated structure or a home-made blind on the ground or in atree, e.g. made of conveniently located brush and foliage. The blind maybe a unit such as an enclosure, hut, or a tent that is brought to thesight or permanently located at the site.

According to certain aspects of the present invention, there is provideda method for the de-scenting of clothing used by sportsmen by the use ofan oxidizing gas, namely, ozone or by ionization with UV light toproduce hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions. More particularly, clothing istreated with ozone or the hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions either at homeor in the field by the application of a small amount of ozone or thehydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions in order to remove the human scent orany other foreign scent. Also, the clothing of fishermen can be treatedwith the oxidizing gas while in the field to remove the odor of fish.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the human scent can beeliminated from clothing by applying a low volume stream of an oxidizinggas comprising ozone or hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions directly on thehunter while he is wearing a hunting outfit. The gaseous stream isapplied by an ozone generator which is hand held or a catalytic ionizercontaining UV light and easily transported by the hunter. The gaseousstream can be applied directly to the clothing being worn by the hunterin an open atmosphere so as to be quickly diluted after it is passedover the clothing. Moreover, the gun or rifle or any other equipment,i.e. ammunition, arrows, scope, finders etc., of the hunter or sportsmencan be similarly treated to remove the gun or rifle or equipment odor.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the human scentof a military person desiring to escape detection by other humans orscent animals (e.g. dogs) is reduced or eliminated enough to avoiddetection. More particularly, there is provided a method for reducing oreliminating human or any other foreign scent from clothing, e.g.clothing and equipment used by military persons desiring to evadecapture—through the use of ozone or hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ionsproduced by ionization in a manner that would not cause irritation orinjury to the user or equipment.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the clothing ofthe hunter can be treated before or after the hunt by placing theclothing in a container i.e. a sack, bag or box while passing theoxidizing gas into the container in order to remove any human or otherscent foreign to that environment.

Another embodiment of the invention is that the generator is carriedwith a hunter or hung upwind of the body so it descents the human scenttraveling downwind. In another embodiment of the invention, thegenerator is carried or placed with or near a hunter with little or noregard to wind direction, allowing for a full 360 degree hunt.

Also, some certain clothing is not cleaned after every use by the hunteror sportsmen such as gloves, hats, jackets, boots, and need to bedeodorized and decontaminated before next use.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the odor of fish canbe eliminated from a fisherman's clothing, body or equipment by thedirect application of a stream of ozone gas or hydroxyl andhydroperoxide ions to the site of the fish odor. Additionally, afisherman's hands can be deodorized with ozone so as to remove the fishodor without causing irritation.

Each of the methods can be practiced in the open in the field of sportsactivity utilizing a low volume gas generator. The clothing is notdecolorized as in applications involved in high volumes of ozone asfound in the garment industry where ozone is used to both de-size and/ordecolorize denim garments. The oxidizing gas may be used alone ordiluted with air as when packaged in a compressed gas form. Ozone whichis produced by generators in amounts up to 8000 mg/hr or more can becompressed or diluted with an inert gas and compressed into smallcontainers.

It is understood that the term “sportsmen” is meant to include thoseindividuals who may hunt with a camera or who merely enter anenvironment to observe animals in their habitat.

Additionally, the term “fishermen” includes those individuals who handlethe fish caught by others.

Hydroxyl and hydroperoxides are produced in a process known as “RadiantCatalytic Ionization” which utilizes ultra violet light which activatesa photocatalytic target.

Small ozone generators such as those producing 1 to 25 lbs. of ozone perday can be utilized. Also the ozone can be applied from compressedozone-filled containers similar to compressed air.

Low volume ozone generators which generate up to 65 mg/hr of ozone andare portable as well as high volume ozone generators are currently soldby EcoQuest International of Greeneville, Tenn. which also sells thegenerators of hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly claimed.

The present invention discloses methods of reducing or of eliminatingany scent that is foreign to the environment from the clothing,equipment and body of sportsmen, by generating a volume of ozone gas ora gaseous stream of hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions produced bycatalytic ionization and passing the gas over the clothing, body, orequipment. Such a method may include any of the following: wherein saidscent is human scent or any other scent that is not natural to theenvironment; passing said gas over a gun or rifle of said sportsman;wherein said sportsman is a hunter; wherein said scent is fish odor;wherein said gas is generated by a hunter at the field of the hunt;wherein the clothing is treated with said gas while being worn by thesportsmen; wherein said clothing and equipment is treated with said gaswhen in a container; wherein said gas is ozone; wherein said gaseousstream is produced by catalytic ionization; and/or wherein said gas iscompressed and delivered from a container. The present inventiondiscloses a method for removing the human scent and any other scent thatis not advantageous to the environment you are in from clothing andequipment used by sportsmen by the use of gaseous ozone or hydroxyl andhydroperoxide ions. The gas is applied directly or indirectly to theclothing, equipment and body while the hunter is in the field and/orprior to or after the hunt. The method can also be used by fishermen toeliminate fish odor. The method can include delivering a gas incompressed/generated form from a generator that is a container.

The following Examples further illustrate the invention, but are notintended to be limiting thereof. In these examples ozone concentrationmonitoring was done with an OS-4HIGH RANGE (Trademark) ozone sensor fromEco Sensors, Inc. of Santa Fe, N. Mex.

EXAMPLES

For any example it would be within the scope of the present invention touse an ozone etc. generator.

Example I shows how ozone reduces underarm odor from humans.

Examples II-X show how ozone reduces odors associated with humanantiperspirants and perfumes.

Examples XI-XII show how ozone can eliminate odors in a tent or blind.

Examples XIII-XXVII show how ozone can eliminate odors from cloth, rags,and clothes placed in a container (e.g. garment bag, luggage, or cooler)and treated with ozone.

Example XXVII shows how ozone treatment results in an improved huntingexperience.

Example I

Ozone from a DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) generator was directed to theunderarm of a human for a period of 30 seconds. The odor before treatingwith ozone was a 10 on a personal odor scale (“POS”) scale in which badodor is at worst a “10” and reduced odor is less than 10, and aftertreatment the odor was a less than 1 on the POS scale.

Example II

Stick deodorant, Right Guard EXTREME (Trademark) deodorant, was wipedonto the back of a human hand. The odor from the deodorant beforetreating with ozone was a 10. After 5 minutes treatment with ozone usingthe DC PRO 450 HO ozonator within 12 inches of the hand, the smell wasvery faint (<1 on the POS scale).

Example III

Male cologne, Calvin Klein's OBSESSION FOR MEN™ cologne, was sprayedtwice on the back of a human hand. The odor before treating with ozonewas a 10. After four minutes treatment with ozone using the DC PRO 450HO (Trademark) ozonator within 12 inches of the hand the smell was veryfaint (<1 on the POS scale).

Example IV

Example III was repeated but the cologne was sprayed only once on theback of a human hand. The odor before treating with ozone was a 10.After 5 minutes treatment with ozone using the DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark)ozonator, the smell was very faint (<1 on the POS scale).

Example V

Human hands had smoke and cigarette smell thereon from campfire andlighting of cigarette. The odor before treating with ozone was a 10.After 2 minutes treatment with ozone using the DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark)ozonator the smell was very faint (<1 on the POS scale).

Example VI

A human rubbed both hands liberally with a sliced onion and placed handsin front of a DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator. The odor beforetreating with ozone was a 10. After two minutes treatment with ozone,the smell was gone (0 odor).

Example VII

A human rubbed fresh crushed garlic on both hands and placed one of thehands in front of DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator (within 12 inches).The odor before treating with ozone was a 10. After two minutes and 20seconds treatment with ozone the smell was faint (less than 1 on the POSscale). After six minutes the smell negligible, and after eight minutesthe smell was gone (0 odor). By comparison, the hand not treated withozone remained a 10 (on the POS scale) after eight minutes.

Example VIII

A human rubbed MAGIC BAIT (Trademark) bait (chicken liver and chickenblood combination on both hands and placed one of the hands in front ofthe DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator (within 12 inches). The odorbefore treating with ozone was a 10 (on the POS scale). After tenminutes the hand treated with ozone had about a 2 odor (on the POSscale). By comparison, the hand not treated with ozone remained a 10 (onthe POS scale) after ten minutes.

Example IX

A human rubbed an ORKA BAY WILD COD (Trademark) fillet on both hands andplaced one of the hands in front of DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator(within 12 inches). The odor before treating with ozone was a 10. Afterseven minutes the hand treated with ozone had a 1 odor (on the POSscale). By comparison, the hand not treated with ozone remained a 10 (onthe POS scale) after ten minutes.

Example X

A back of a human hand was sprayed with two sprays of Ralph LaurenROMANCE (Trademark) perfume. The odor before treating with ozone was a10 (on the POS scale). After five minutes treatment with ozone using theozonator the smell was faint (2 odor on the POS scale).

Example XI

Placed Glade CINNAMON APPLE PLUG-INS SCENTS (Trademark) in two tents,each with a volume of about 125 cubic feet. After 2 hours, the smell inboth tents was a 10 (on the POS scale). In one tent a BIOZONE DC PRO3400 (Trademark) ozonator was turned on. At the time intervals statedbelow, the odor level (on the POS scale) in the tents was as follows:

10 minutes Ta 10 Tb 6 20 minutes Ta 10 Tb 5 30 minutes Ta 10 Tb 4 45minutes Ta 10 Tb 0 (Ta = Tent without ozone; Tb = Tent with ozone)

Example XII

Placed Air Wick TROPICAL MIST PLUG INS (Trademark) on plug-in controlset at a setting of MAX ODOR in a tent with a PRO 3400 (Trademark)ozonator with an Eco Sensors sensor; and in a second “control” tent withno ozonator, placed an Air Wick TROPICAL MIST PLUG INS (Trademark) onplug-in control set at a setting of MAX ODOR with all tent doors andflaps closed. After 30 minutes both tents had 10 odor (on the POSscale). Then the ozonator with the plug-ins at a control setting of MAXODOR, was turned on and ozone levels in the tent with the ozonator roseas follows (with odor levels in both tents, on POS scale, as indicated):

 0 minutes = 0.00 ppm  1 minute = 0.26 ppm  2 minutes = 0.50 ppm  3minutes = 0.71 ppm  4 minutes = 0.87 ppm  5 minutes = 1.02 ppm (odor inozonated tent, 4; in control tent, 10) 15 minutes = 2.43 ppm (odor inozonated tent, 3; in control tent, 10) 21 minutes = 2.35 ppm (odor inozonated tent, 3-4; in control tent, 10) At 21 minutes, turned output ofboth plug-ins to a 0.5 control setting. 31 minutes = 2.42 ppm 36 minutes= 2.34 ppm (odor in ozonated tent, 4; control tent, 10) 41 minutes(unplugged both plug-ins and removed from tents) 56 minutes = 2.97 ppm(odor in ozonated tent, 1; control tent, 10) 71 minutes (set bothplug-ins on a “low” control setting in each tent 81 minutes = 2.81 ppm(odor in ozonated tent, 1; control tent, 10)

Example XIII

An ENVIROSORB (Trademark) cellulose solvent pillow (available from LabSafety Supply, Inc.) was saturated with butyl mercaptan vapors byplacing an open bottle of butyl mercaptan in a closed metal paint cancontaining the pillow. The vapor-saturated pillow was then placed in aDILLARD'S (Trademark) garment bag along with a DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark)ozonator. The odor before treating with ozone was a 10 (on the POSScale). After 20 minutes with the ozonator on in the bag, treatedimbiber had a smell of 1 on the POS scale.

Example XIV

Approximately 0.5 ml of butylmercaptan was added to 10 ml denaturedalcohol in a SEP (Trademark) commercial sprayer. Five sprays of themixture were sprayed on a cotton t-shirt. The shirt was placed in agarment bag along with a DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator. The odorbefore treating with ozone was a 10 (on the POS Scale). After 20 minutestreating with ozone in the bag, the treated shirt had a smell of 2 onthe POS scale and a control shirt (no treatment) had a smell of 10 onthe POS scale.

Example XV

Ralph Lauren ROMANCE (Trademark) fragrance was sprayed twice on a cottonshirt and placed in the garment bag of Example XIII along with a DC PRO450 HO (Trademark) ozonator. The control shirt was sprayed two timeswith the fragrance and placed in open air. The odor on both shirtsbefore treating with ozone was a 10 (on the POS scale). After 10 minutesof ozone treatment in the bag, the treated shirt had a smell of 0 andthe control shirt had a smell of 10.

Example XVI

One spray of LEMON FRESH PINESOL (Trademark) liquid was sprayed on eachof two cloths. One cloth was placed in the garment bag of Example XIIIwith a DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator, and the other cloth (control)was placed outdoors. The odor on both cloths before treating with ozonewas a 10 (on the POS scale). After 6 minutes of ozone treatment in thebag the treated cloth had a smell of 0 on the POS scale and the controlcloth had a smell of 2 on the POS scale.

Example XVII

Smoke from a small fire of had and small twigs was allowed to permeated2 cloths. One cloth was placed in the garment bag of Example XIII with aDC PRO 450 HO (Trademark) ozonator and the other cloth (control) wasplaced outdoors. The odor on both cloths before treating with ozone wasa 10 (on the POS scale). After 5 minutes of treating with ozone, thetreated cloth had a small of 0 on the POS scale and the control clothhad a smell of 6 on the POS scale.

Example XVIII

Smoke from a lit cigarette was blown into two cloths. One cloth wasplaced in the garment bag of Example XIII with DC PRO 450 HO (Trademark)ozonator, and the other cloth (control) was placed outdoors. The odor onboth cloths before treating with ozone was a (on the POS scale). After 6minutes of treating with ozone in the bag, the treated cloth had a 0smell on the POS scale and the control cloth had a smell of 6 on the POSscale.

Example XIX

Ralph Lauren ROMANCE (Trademark) fragrance was sprayed twice on theoutside of a SCENT-LOK SAVANNAH EXT (Trademark) jacket. At time=0, thesmell of the sprayed jacket was a 10 on the POS scale. After 5 minutesin the open air the smell was still an 8 on the POS scale. The jacketwas then placed in the garment bag of Example XIII with a PRO 3400(Trademark) ozonator. After treating the jacket for 10 minutes in thebag with ozone the smell was a 2 on the POS scale. After 15 minutes ofozone treatment in the bag the odor of the jacket was a 1 on the POSScale. After 20 minutes of such treatment the odor was gone.

Example XX

The inside lining of a jacket as in Example XIX was sprayed with theROMANCE (Trademark) fragrance and placed inside the bag of Example XIIIwith a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozonator. At time=0, the smell was a 10 onthe POS scale. After treating the jacket for 5 minutes in the bag withozone the smell was a 3 on the POS scale. After 10 minutes of ozonetreatment in the bag the odor of the jacket was a 1-2 on the POS scale.After treating the jacket for 15 minutes in the bag with ozone the smellwas a 0-1 on the POS scale. After 20 minutes the odor was gone.

Example XXI

ROMANCE (Trademark) fragrance was sprayed onto two cloth rags with foursprays of the fragrance each. One cloth was placed in a bag as inExample XIII with a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozonator and the other cloth(control) was placed outside. At time=0, the smell on both rags was a 10on the POS scale. After 5 minutes the ozone-treated rag was a 0 on thePOS scale and the outside cloth was a 2 on the POS scale.

Example XXII

Two rags were each sprayed with two sprays of Calvin Klein OBSESSION FORMEN (Trademark) cologne plus four sprays of the Ralph Lauren ROMANCE(Trademark) fragrance. One rag was placed in a bag as in Example XIIIwith a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozonator and the other rag was placedoutside. At time=0, the smell on both rags was a 10 on the POS scale.After 5 minutes of treatment, the ozone cloth in the bag had a smell of0 on the POS scale and the cloth outside had a smell of 10 on the POSscale.

Example XXIII

The OBSESSION (Trademark) cologne was sprayed (2 sprays) on twoSCENT-LOK SAVANNAH EXT coats. One coat was placed in a bag as in ExampleXIII with a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozonator. The other coat (control) wasplaced in the open air. The results are below:

TIME CONTROL COAT SMELL COAT TREATED WITH OZONE (SMELLS ON POS SCALE)  0minutes 10  10   5 minutes 10  7  7 minutes 10  4 13 minutes 8 3 18minutes 7 2 (e.g. at 7 minutes the control coat had a smell of 10 andthe treated coat had a smell of 4)

Example XXIV

The OBSESSION (Trademark) fragrance was sprayed (2 sprays) each onto onesweat shirt, one camouflage t-shirt (short sleeved), one camouflagedlong-sleeved t-shirt, one pair of denim jeans, one cotton short pantsand one cotton t-shirt. All the clothes were placed in a bag as inExample XIII in no order along with a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozonegenerator. The smell at time=0 in the bag was a 10 on the POS scale.After 95 minutes treatment with ozone in the bag, each garment had aless than 1 smell on the POS scale. Ten hours later, all the clothesplaced in the bag still had ozone odor on them. At this time all theclothes were placed in an unsealed plastic bag and another 14.5 hourslater the clothes still had ozone odor on them.

Example XXV

One spray of COON URINE (Trademark) Hunter's Masking Scent was sprayedonto a t-shirt. The t-shirt was placed into a bag as in Example XIIIalong with a BORA IV LIVING AIR (Trademark) ozonator (fan on max). Theresults are shown below for the indicated number of minutes of treatmentwith ozone in the bag:

-   0 minutes=10 odor (odor of shirt on POS scale)-   5 minutes=6 odor-   10 minutes=2 odor-   15 minutes=1 odor

Example XXVI

One spray of the OBSESSION (Trademark) cologne was sprayed onto a POLARTEC (Trademark) fleece jacket and placed into a 150 quart cooler fittedwith a clothes rod and hanger. The fleece jacket was placed on thehanger and a PRO 3400 (Trademark) ozone generator was placed into thecooler. The smell at time=0 in the cooler was a 10 on the POS scale.After 15 minutes treatment with ozone, the garment had about a 1 smellon the POS scale.

Example XXVII

On spray of the OBSESSION (Trademark) cologne was sprayed on a greenlong-sleeved shirt (100% cotton knit) and placed in the cooler asdescribed in Example XXVI along with a PRO 3400 (Trademark) generator. Asmall fan was placed in the bottom of the cooler and turned on max withthe fan facing up. The smell at time=0 in the cooler was a 10 on the POSscale. After 15 minutes of treatment with ozone in the cooler, the shirthad about a 1 smell on the POS scale. Then the shirt was re-placed inthe cooler and treated with ozone for an additional 30 minutes. Thisresulted in several red streaks on the shirt due to the ozone contactingand remaining on the shirt. The shirt was then removed from the coolerand placed on a table open to the ambient air. About eleven hours later,the shirt still had an ozone smell and almost all the red streaking haddisappeared. Another 12 hours later minimal ozone smell was noticeableand all red streaking had disappeared.

Example XXVIII

A sweaty t-shirt that a human jogged in for 3.5 miles over 35 minuteswas placed on a hanger in the cooler of Example XXVI along with a PRO3400 (Trademark) ozone generator and a small fan in the cooler wasturned on high. The smell at time=0 in the cooler was a 10 on the POSscale. After 20 minutes treatment with ozone in the cooler, the garmenthad about a 2 smell on the POS scale.

Example XXIX

A hunter placed himself in a cedar bush located in the Fort PeckWilderness Area in Montana. A Biozone 50 (Trademark) battery-operatedozonator was placed on a backpack located between the hunter's legs andturned on. An elk was observed approaching within 8 yards of the hunterabout 45 minutes after the ozonator was turned. The elk passed downwindand through the hunter's scent line without detecting the hunter.

Example XXX

A hunter placed himself in a home-made blind of native brush in SouthTexas along with an OMZ-200 (Trademark) battery operated ozonator hungfrom the blind and located about 10 inches behind and above his head.The hunter did not use any SCENT-LOK (Trademark) clothing, masks orscents prior to or during the hunt, but was camouflaged using Cabela'slightweight ghillie pants, jacket and facemask. Deer corn was placed atthe perimeter of the blind going out to about 30 feet from the blind.Within 10 minutes of turning on the ozonator to Max Setting, up to 6white tail deer at a time and several birds (cardinals and finch) wereobserved feeding within 10 yards downwind of the hunter in a 3 hour timespan. One young buck was observed within 5 feet downwind of the blindwhere the hunter was laying. None of the deer, cardinals or finchappeared to have scented the hunter.

Optionally, a feeder FR is provided to attract an animal (e.g., but notlimited to, a grain feeder for attracting a deer or a bird feeder forattracting a bird). Any known feeder may be used, including but notlimited to, an automatic powered timed feeder. An ozone generator Xconnected to or adjacent the feeder FR produces ozone to descent thefeeder, the feed, and/or the area around the feeder.

In all the Examples I-XXX the ozonator or generator included a fan aspart thereof and this fan was operating when the ozonator or generatorwas turned on.

FIG. 2 shows a person S with an over-shoulder removable harness 22 of asystem 20 according to the present invention. An ozone generator 24 isconnected to the harness 22. Optionally produced ozone is directed tothe person's underarms by tubes 26. Optionally, produced ozone isexpelled from the ozone 24 via a port 28.

FIG. 3 shows a person D with a system 30 according to the presentinvention. A shoulder strap 32 supports an ozone generator 34.Optionally produced ozone is expelled through a port 38. Optionallytubes 33 direct produced ozone to the person's underarms. Optionally thesystem 30 includes a free tube 35 which may be of any desired length andwhich is movable and/or flexible for directing ozone to any body partand/or toward any item or area.

FIG. 4 shows two systems 40 according to the present invention used by aperson F. Each system 40 has an ozone generator with a nozzle 46 fordirecting produced ozone in a desired direction at a desired body part.Each system 40 has thereon an amount of releasably-cooperatinghook-and-loop fastener material 43. A corresponding amount 45 of thismaterial is on a shirt 41 of the person F; thus, the ozone generators 44are releasably connected to the shirt 41. Optionally, such a connectioncan be provided for any ozone generator disclosed herein for connectionto any piece of clothing, footwear, blind, or other item. Optionallyeach ozone generator 44 has a produced-ozone exit port 48. The person Fis wearing clothing, including a shirt ST.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide descenter(e.g. ozone or ozone etc.) at a body part or area adversely affected byan encounter with a rash-inducing and/or irritation inducing substance,animal, or plant (e.g., but not limited to) poison ivy or stingingnettle) or an area affected by a bug, spider, wasp, bee, ant, or insectbite. In one aspect, descenter is directed at such an area, e.g. ozoneis directed from an ozone generator, e.g. as in FIG. 4 ozone is directedat an area PI irritated by poison ivy or at a bite BT using one of thegenerators of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows a person G with a system 50 according to the presentinvention with an ozone generator 54 worn or a string or cord 51 aroundthe person's neck. Optionally, the system has two tubes 53, one directedto each of the person's underarms. Optionally the system 50 has a tube55 directed to a body area beneath the person's chest (e.g. but notlimited to, to the groin area). Optionally, the ozone generator 54 has aproduced-ozone exit port 58 a and/or a produced-ozone exit port 58 b.

FIG. 6 shows a person H with a system 60 according to the presentinvention having an ozone generator 64 worn around the waist on a belt61. It is within the scope of the present invention for the belt to bearound any body part or area (e.g. but not limited to, head, arm, leg,chest, foot). Tubes 62 a, 62 b, 63 a, 63 b, 64, 65 a, 65 b, and 66extend to various body parts or areas to convey ozone to those parts orareas. Optionally, an ozone generator or generators 67 a, 67 b, 67 c, 67d, and/or 67 e may be used with or instead of the ozone generator 64.The tubes 63 a, 63 b can, as shown extend down into boots 69 or they canbe terminated above the boots 69.

FIG. 7 shows a system 80 according to the present invention with an icechest or cooler 71 with an openable lid 71 a and body 71 b with aninterior space 71 c. Shown schematically within the interior space 71 cis an ozone generator 72, an optional fan 73, a piece of cloth 74 and anitem 75 (shown schematically, may be any thing that will fit within thecooler, including, but not limited to, any item or thing disclosedherein which can be descented with ozone). With the lid 71 a closed oropen, the ozone generator is turned on to produce ozone to descent thecloth 74 and/or the item 75. When the optional fan 73 is present andturned on, it provides air to circulate the ozone. It is within thescope of the present invention for the ozone generator 72 and the fan 73to be powered via an electrical power source (not shown) using a typicalelectrical power cord (not shown); or, as shown, the ozone generator 72and the fan 73 are battery-operated. Optionally, or in addition to thefan 73, a fan 73 a may be used outside the cooler 71 with the lid 71 aopen.

A cooler according to the present invention may, optionally, have atleast one zone, space, layer or area located between the inside andoutside of the cooler where oxidant (e.g. ozone) is present or directed.The cooler may optionally be made of a material that absorbs or containsozone and may also change color to indicate the presence or absence ofozone. The ozone not only reduces or eliminates the odors from thecontents within the cooler, but also may reduce germs and bacteria forthe cooler and the contents within the cooler.

FIG. 8 shows a system 80 according to the present invention with aflexible bag 81 with an openable zipper 81 a and body 81 b with aninterior space 81 c. Shown schematically within the interior space 81 cis an ozone generator 82, an optional fan 83, a piece of cloth 84 anditems 85, 86, 87 (shown schematically, may be any thing that will fitwithin the bag, including, but not limited to, any item or thingdisclosed herein which can be descented with ozone). With the zipper 81a closed or open, the ozone generator is turned on to produce ozone todescent the cloth 84 and/or the item 85. When the optional fan 83 ispresent and turned on, it provides air to circulate the ozone. It iswithin the scope of the present invention for the ozone generator 72 andthe fan 73 to be powered via an electrical power source or solar powersource (not shown) using a typical electrical power cord (not shown);or, as shown, the ozone generator 72 and the fan 73 arebattery-operated. Optionally, or in addition to the fan 83, a fan 83 amay be used outside the flexible bag 81, with the zipper 81 a open orclosed.

The bag may optionally have at least one zone, layer, space, or arealocated between the inside and outside of the bag where oxidant (e.g.ozone) may be present or directed. The bag may optionally be made ofmaterial that absorbs or contains ozone and may also change color toindicate the presence or absence of ozone. The ozone not only reduces oreliminates the odors from the contents within the container, but alsomay reduce germs and bacteria for the bag and the contents within thebag. In one embodiment, the bag may contain food. In another embodimentthe bag may contain a human body (e.g. body bag).

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a system 90 according to the present inventionwhich includes a portable container 92 with a hinged lid 96 connectedwith hinges 98 to a main body 91. As shown in FIG. 9B (with the lid 96open) the interior of the container can contain a plurality of items,e.g., but not limited to, diving gear F, G, H, J. An ozone generator 94is placed within the container 92 and, with the lid 96 open or closed,the ozone generator 94 produces ozone to descent the items F-J. It iswithin the scope of the present invention for the ozone generator 72 andthe fan 73 to be powered via an electrical power source or solar powersource (not shown) using a typical electrical power cord or solar cell(not shown); or, as shown, the ozone generator 72 and the fan 73 arebattery-operated.

The portable container may optionally have at least one zone, space,layer, or area located between the inside and outside of the containerwhere oxidant (e.g. ozone) may be present or directed. The container mayoptionally be made of a material that absorbs or contains ozone and mayalso change color to indicate the presence or absence of ozone. Theozone not only reduces or eliminates the odors from the contents withinthe container, but also may reduce germs and bacteria for the containerand the contents within the container. In one embodiment, the containermay contain food. In another embodiment the container may contain ahuman body.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a system 100 according to the present inventionwhich includes a garment bag 102 with handles 101 a and 101 b and aninterior space 101 c. The garment bag 102 may contain any thing or itemthat will fit therein. As shown schematically in FIG. 10B, the garmentbag 102 contains items of clothing 103, 104 hung therein and shoes 105.An ozone generator 106 is placed within the garment bag 102 to produceozone to descent the items therein. Optionally a fan 107 is also usedwithin the garment bag 102. It is within the scope of the presentinvention for the ozone generator 72 and the fan 73 to be powered via anelectrical power source (not shown) using a typical electrical powercord (not shown); or, as shown, the ozone generator 72 and the fan 73are battery-operated. Optionally, or in addition to the fan 107, a fan107 a may be used outside the bag 102 with the bag 102 open or closed.

The garment bag may optionally have at least one zone, space, layer, orarea located between the inside and outside of the bag where oxidant(e.g. ozone) may be present or directed. The garment bag may optionallybe made of a material that absorbs or contains ozone and may also changecolor to indicate the presence or absence of ozone. The ozone not onlyreduces or eliminates the odors from the contents within the bag, butalso may reduce germs and bacteria for the bag and the contents withinthe bag. In one embodiment, the bag may contain food. In anotherembodiment the bag may contain a human body (e.g. a body bag).

It is to be understood for any embodiment disclosed herein that mentionsan “ozone generator” that a descenting material generator may be usedthat produces ozone, etc. and/or any, each of, and/or all descentingmaterials referred to herein and their equivalents, with or without anintegrated fan that is operating. In the systems of FIG. 2-FIG. 10A anysuitable ozonator, ozone generator, or descenting material generator maybe used, with or without a fan that is operating.

Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that in one aspect,ozone in the air kills bacteria in certain body areas of humans,including in the underarm and groin areas—areas responsible forproducing many of the odor-causing volatiles emitted by humans. Inanother aspect, volatile odors produced and emitted directly by humansvia the skin, mouth or feet are oxidized by ozone into compounds thatare much less volatile and therefore far less detectable to serviceanimals. In another aspect, it is believed that ozone in the airsubstantially reacts with volatiles in the air emitted by the contrabandso that the scent is below the level of detection by the service animal.In yet another aspect, it is believed that the more powerful (but muchshorter life-time) hydroxyl and/or hydroperoxide radical oxidants,produced by ozone reacting with ultraviolet rays and/or moisture in theair, contribute to odor elimination.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that in one aspect, ozonereacts with the residue or exposed surface of the contraband to producean oxidized substance that has no odor or that is no longer volatile andtherefore not detectable by the service animal or human. In anotheraspect, any volatile odors that are produced and emitted directly by thecontraband are reacted with the gaseous ozone to produce an oxidizedsubstance that has no odor or that is no longer volatile and thereforenot detectable by the service animal or human. In another aspect, it isbelieved that ozone in the air kills the bacteria in the underarm andgroin area that is responsible for the odor-causing volatiles emitted byhuman and animal contraband. In another aspect, any volatile odors thatare produced and emitted directly by human or animal contraband via theskin are oxidized by the ozone into compounds that are much lessvolatile and therefore less detectable to humans and service animals. Inanother aspect, any volatile odors that are produced and emitteddirectly by human or animal contraband via the feet and escape throughthe shoe or socks are oxidized by the ozone into compounds that are muchless volatile and therefore less detectable to humans and serviceanimals. In yet another aspect, any pheromone or combinations ofpheromones (which contain a wide variety of alcohol, ester, andsaturated organic functionality) that are produced and emitted by humanand animal contraband at levels far too small to be detectable by humansbut not by service animals, are oxidized by the ozone into compoundsthat are much less volatile and therefore far less detectable to serviceanimals. In yet another aspect, odorants in breath of human and animalcontraband such as aldehydes, alcohols and acids are oxidized by theozone into compounds that are much less volatile and therefore far lessdetectable to humans and service animals. In yet another aspect, it ispossible that oxidized volatiles of contraband, even if they are stillsomewhat volatile and detected by humans and service animals, arechanged enough in composition that the human or service animal no longerdetects the oxidized volatiles as human or animal contraband. In yetanother aspect, it is possible that higher levels of ozone in theenvironment around the contraband overpowers any odor volatiles suchthat the service animal or human perceives the higher concentration ofozone as the result of commonly-occurring and natural lightening.

In all systems and methods according to the present invention, there isno limitation to the number of generators used except for taking theprecaution of not allowing human or animal contraband to come intocontact with an unsafe amount of descenter, e.g., ozone etc. thatadversely affects human health and one, tow, or more such generators maybe sued in any system or method according to the present invention. Forcost and convenience, one generator located on, in or near contraband issufficient in many cases. Multiple generators located on, in or near thecontraband, and combinations thereof, may result in better concealmentof the contraband from the law enforcement officer or service animal.

In systems and methods according to the present invention, oxidizing gasmay be used alone or diluted with air as when packaged in a compressedgas form. Ozone etc., which is produced by generators in amounts up to8000 mg/hr or more, can be compressed or diluted with an inert gas andcompressed into small containers.

Example A

A person climbed a tree in the woods near his house and turned on anOzonics HR-100 ozonator. A neighbor's dog walked by some time later.When directly downwind the dog stopped, sniffed, looked confused, butwalked on. When he came to where the person had walked into the woods hestopped and sniffed the person's trail for a few feet then left andcontinued on his way. The dog did not detect that the person was in thetree.

Example B

A narcotics test was performed using 4 different Police trained doghandlers and their trained narcotics dogs. Latex gloves were placed onthe hands of anyone handling the narcotics, cardboard boxes, and OzonicsHR-100 ozone generators used in this demonstration so that the traineddogs would not be influenced by the scent of a human.

In a room was placed five legal sized cardboard boxes spacedapproximately 2 to 3 feet apart from one another. In a random order wasplaced 1 small bag of cocaine wrapped in plastic into a box. Intoanother box was placed a small bag of heroin wrapped in plastic thatcontained an HR-100 ozonator that was turned on. Into another box wasplaced just an HR-100. Two boxes had nothing in them. After putting lidson each box and then 10 minutes of running the ozonators, one Policeofficer and their dog at any given time entered the room. The Policeofficer instructed their dog to search each of the boxes. All the dogsidentified the box containing the cocaine almost immediately byscratching the box and then laying down in front of the box. The dogswere immediately rewarded by their handler by opening the box to showthe plastic wrapped cocaine and giving praises to their dogs. It tookseveral attempts for the four dogs to detect the heroin masked by theozone, and all had to be instructed by their handlers to put their noseinto the carrying holes of the cardboard box to detect the heroin. Noneof the dogs reacted to the box containing just the ozonator.

It will now be appreciated by anyone skilled in the art that ozone etc.can unexpectedly be used to conceal contraband from service animalshaving been trained to detect small amounts of odor from contraband thathumans cannot generally detect.

Unfortunately, contraband is routinely smuggled into sovereign countriesand entities in which it is illegal to possess, such as the UnitedStates. Consequently, law enforcement personnel have a vested interestin breaking the smuggling procedure. Taking advantage of the innateacuteness of service animals such as contraband-sniffing canines, lawenforcement personnel have routinely used such canines on the front lineof defense against the smugglers. However, the smugglers have been knownto use a wide variety of substances and devices to especially mask theodor associated with the narcotic contraband, including coffee grounds.Once enforcement personnel were alerted to the smugglers use of coffeegrounds to mask narcotics, the narcotics personnel then trained theirdogs to detect the use of coffee grounds as a mask for the narcotics.The new use for systems and methods according to the present inventionprovide law enforcement personnel with an added level of defense intheir struggle against the contraband smugglers attempting to use ozonebased descenters to eliminate or reduce the odor of contraband.

For the new use, a plurality of packages are provided, wherein at leastone package contains a predetermined amount of contraband. Preferably,the amount of contraband is enough to be detected by thecontraband-detecting canines. Further, a scent remover (descentinggenerator, e.g., similar to any described herein with regard to thepresent invention) is placed in or near at least one of the packages,and operated to remove the odor emanating from the contraband.Additionally, “dummy” packages—packages containing nothing—may bedisposed in the area as well. Optionally, at least one package cancontain just an ozone-based scent remover.

A service animal, such as a contraband-detecting canine, is thenintroduced to the area in which the packages are located. In time, andrelying on the superior olfactory sense of the animal, the serviceanimal will be able to detect which package(s) contain contraband, whichpackage(s) contain contraband masked by the scent remover, whichpackage(s) contains just a generator (or ozonator), and which package(s)contain nothing. Training of the contraband-detecting canine to detectthe various packages is preferably done according to known trainingtechniques. To assist in the training of the service animal, rewards aretypically provided, in the form of food and/or praise, to the animal fora successful detection.

To further aid in the successful detection of a person attempting to usea descenting system to conceal contraband, the handler may optionallyposses a descenter, e.g. an ozone etc., detection device to confirm thepresence of descenter, e.g. of ozone etc., above the normal ambientconcentration of ozone etc. The detection device may be any that arewell known in the art such as a badge, test strip, gas detector(available from UV Process Supply, Chicago Ill. www.uvprocess.com), orsensor such as the Ecosensor PO3 pocket ozone detector or EcosensorEZ-1x ozone monitor available from Ecosensor (www.ecosensors.com). Inthis way, the handler can confirm for example, that the concentration ofozone etc. is elevated in one particular area compared to an area just ashort distance away from the area of interest. This may provide thehandler with the evidence needed to obtain a search warrant toinvestigate further. Alternatively, if the smuggler is present, thehandler could show the result to the smuggler and request that thesmuggler turn off any descenting device so that the service animal canthen positively detect any contraband.

The detector may have a probe or tube to allow for poking the probe ortube into various depths of the containers, enclosures, trailers, hiddenareas, etc., to detect the presence of abnormally high levels of oxidant(e.g. ozone). The detector may optionally also have an input at, in, orvery near the detector to also measure ambient oxidant (e.g. ozone)levels so that a difference of ambient oxidant versus an abnormallyhigher level of oxidant (e.g. ozone) can be better compared anddetected.

In many cases contraband, especially airborne contraband, and contrabandcontained in water supplies and soil, can adversely affect the healthand property of humans and animals. This is especially true ofnarcotics, radioactive materials and wastes, toxins and biologicalagents/weapons such as viruses, anthrax, botulinum toxin, aflatoxin,Salmonella Typhimurium, Ascaris suum, B. anthracis, ricin, plague,smallpox and more such as is described in the Department of Health andHuman Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention EmergingInfectious Diseases Journal, “Potential Biological Weapons Threats”,located at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/kortepeter.htm.Application of ozone etc. to especially airborne, soil, or watercontaining contraband in concentrations sufficient to effectively reduceor eliminate the contraband will reduce the health and safety aspects ofthe contraband upon the health and property (including clothing) ofhumans and animals. Whether the contraband was discovered afterattempted concealment of the contraband with ozone etc., or was detectedby other means, including visual means, application of descenter, e.g.of ozone etc., or of additional ozone etc. at or near the contrabandeffectively reduces or eliminates injurious effects of the contrabandand reduces or eliminates the negative health and safety aspects of thecontraband upon the health and property of humans and animals. Whenhumans and animals are present in the vicinity of contraband, especiallyairborne contraband, application of descenter, e.g. of ozone etc., at orin the vicinity of the human so that the human is contacted by, takesin, or breathes ozone etc. results in injurious effects of contacted orinhaled contraband also being effectively reduced or eliminated in thenose, mouth, respiratory tract, lungs, and even blood of the human oranimal.

Example C

A person came into contact with poison ivy on their ankle and had red,itchy skin. Ozone from an Ozonics HR-100 ozone generator was directed atthe ankle for about 20 minutes. Shortly thereafter, the skin was stillred, but the skin no longer itched, and the poison ivy was observed notto extend beyond the original area of skin that was already red.

It is recognized that especially narcotic and toxic contraband such asthe biological contraband mentioned above is a serious criminal andterrorist threat, especially to people and to the people and property ofgovernment buildings, public buildings, subways, airports, buses,sporting arenas and the like. Once narcotic or toxic contraband isdetected by any means, at or near the contraband, application ofadditional descenter, e.g., ozone etc., will effectively reduce oreliminate injurious effects of the contraband will reduce the health andsafety aspects of the contraband upon the health and property of humansand animals. The application of ozone etc. can be manual, or automatedvia detection of the contraband by any means, including electronicdetection of the contraband by well know instrumentation known in theart such as infrared and UV instruments. In one aspect an ozone detectoris used that measures reduction of ambient ozone below normal levelssince this indicates reaction of the ambient ozone with a foreignsubstance (e.g. contraband) that likely should not be present. If theinjurious effects are on or are caused on the skin of a human or animal,descenter can be directed at the injured skin, or a material containingabsorbed descenter may be placed directly on or near the skin. In thisway, injurious effects of harmful contraband on skin can be neutralized,and harmful contraband can be prevented from re-exposing injured skin.The descenter also provides for the reduction and killing of germs andbacteria from contacting and/or entering injured skin, resulting in abetter prognosis for the human or animal. The material can be of thetype that changes color to indicate when descenter is present or absentfrom the material. If the public area or building has air ducts,descenter, e.g. ozone etc., could also be applied via the air ductsmanually or automatically to decontaminate at least a portion of thearea containing the contraband. If the public area or building has airduct(s), descenter, e.g. ozone etc., is also applied via the air duct(s)manually or automatically to decontaminate at least a portion of thearea containing the contraband.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a system and method for reducing oreliminating the various odors that are detectable by service animals,and to the detection, by those animals, of such systems and methods.

In other aspects, according to the present invention, a descentingsystem described herein is used to train contraband-detecting serviceanimals to determine if a system, is or has been used in an attempt toreduce or eliminate the scent of contraband.

In other aspects, in systems and methods according to the presentinvention, descenter, e.g., ozone etc., is used to reduce or eliminateespecially airborne narcotic and toxic contraband to protect the healthand safety of humans and animals, protect humans that have breathed thenarcotic or toxic contraband, and to decontaminate public buildings andpublic areas and the people contained in these areas to the narcotic ortoxic contraband.

In certain aspects of the present invention, a blanket, piece ofclothing, gauze, fabric, or wrap has descenter, e.g. ozone etc., boundwithin it and/or absorbed therein. For example, the clothing worn by theperson F in FIG. 4 includes a shirt ST that has bound to its material anoxidant OE (any ozone etc. bindable to or absorbable by the material ofthe shirt). Any piece of clothing according to the present invention canhave such a bound or absorbed oxidant.

FIG. 15 illustrates a blanket 300 according to the present inventionwhich is made of fabric 302. Bound to or absorbed into the material ofthe fabric 302 is oxidant (or descenter) 304 (shown grossly as dots andnot to scale in FIG. 15) which can be any oxidant bindable to thematerial. Optionally, the oxidant 304 is oxidant that has been absorbedby the material of the fabric 302. For the text descriptions of thesubject matter of FIGS. 15-18, “descenter” may be used for “oxidant.”

FIG. 16 shows a person 301 wrapped in a blanket 310 which is like theblanket 300, FIG. 15. The blanket 310 has oxidant (or descenter) 314bound to the material of its fabric 312 or absorbed therein. Wrappingthe person in the blanket can mask odors from the person and can inhibitthe effectiveness of discovery by animals trained to smell humans, humanodors, and/or smells associated with humans such as food smells,deodorant smells, and soap smells and the like. The oxidant 314 is showngrossly and not to scale as in FIG. 15.

The blanket, wrap, cloth having descenting material described above is,optionally, a bandage material, wound dressing material, or a gauzematerial that is useful for covering a cut, abrasion or wound to anypart of the body of a human or animal, in this way helping the healingof the person be reacting with foreign substances in and around the cut,abrasion, or wound, eliminating or reducing odor emanating therefrom,and/or reducing or eliminating germs and bacteria from entering orspreading to or on the cut, abrasion or wound. The blanket, wrap, cloth,etc., material is, optionally, color changing material to indicate thepresence or relative absence of descenting material contained on or inthe material.

FIG. 17 shows an animal, a horse 321, wrapped in a blanket 320 which islike the blankets 300 and 310. The blanket 320 has oxidant (ordescenter) 324 bound to the material of its fabric 322 or absorbedtherein. Wrapping the horse in the blanket can mask odors from the horseand can inhibit the effectiveness of discovery by animals trained tosmell humans. The oxidant 324 is shown grossly and not to scale as inFIG. 15. Any animal can be wrapped in a blanket or wrap according to thepresent invention. Any person or animal can, according to the presentinvention, be clothed and/or wrapped totally or only partially with aclothing, blanket or wrap according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a thing 331 wrapped in a wrap 330 according to the presentinvention. The wrap 310 has oxidant 334 bound to its material 332 orabsorbed therein. Wrapping the thing in the wrap can mask odors from thething and can inhibit the effectiveness of discovery by animals(including humans) and discovery by animals trained to smell suchthings. Wrapping the thing in the wrap can mask odors from the thing sothat humans cannot smell it. The oxidant (or descenter) 334 is showngrossly and not to scale as in FIG. 15.

FIG. 14A shows a vehicle 340 according to the present invention that hastherein a person 341, a thing 342, and/or an animal 343. The person 341is wrapped in a blanket 344 (like the blanket 300 or 310). The thing 342is wrapped in a wrap 345 (like the wrap 330; or like any blanketaccording to the present invention). The animal 343 is wrapped in ablanket 346 (like the blanket 300 or the blanket 310). Any of the person341, thing 342, and animal 343 may be contraband.

FIG. 14B shows an airplane 350 according to the present invention thathas therein a person 341, a thing 342, and/or an animal 343 (like thosein FIG. 14A and like numerals indicate like things). The person 341 iswrapped in a blanket 344 (like the blanket 300 or 310). The thing 342 iswrapped in a wrap 345 (like the wrap 330; or like any blanket accordingto the present invention). The animal 343 is wrapped in a blanket 346(like the blanket 300 or the blanket 310). Any of the person 341, thing342, and animal 343 may be contraband.

The vehicle 340 or the plane 350 may have an on-board descenter or ozoneetc. generator 360 and/or an on-board dehydrating apparatus 370.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for reducing foreign scent in aspace between a human being and an animal, the method including:generating descenting material with a generator, introducing thedescenting material into a space between a human being and an animal,the space containing foreign scent, and reducing the foreign scent inthe space with the descenting material. Such a method may include one orsome, in any possible combination, of the following: the foreign scentincluding human odor; exposing the human being to about 0.1 ppm ozone,or less, over an area, e.g. within a radius of six feet or less of thehuman being; exposing the human being to 0.2 ppm ozone, or less;exposing the human being to ozone produced by the generator over a timeperiod, e.g. over a time period of eight hours or less, and 0.1 ppm, orless (all “ppm” ozone levels are a time-weighted average value in air);the descenting material being ozone and the human being has on an itemof clothing and the item of clothing receives an amount of ozoneproduced by the generator, the amount of ozone sufficient so that ozoneis retained on the item of clothing and, in one aspect, the item ofclothing is colored and the ozone changes the color of at least part ofthe item of clothing, and the clothing is, e.g., made of knit fabric,cotton fabric, cotton blended fabric, fibrous fabric or fleece, naturalfabric, synthetic fiber fabric, plastic cloth material, plastic fabricmaterial, and/or plastic flexible material; the descenting materialbeing ozone; the descenting material being any of ozone, hydroxyradicals, hydroperoxides, and oxidants; generating the descentingmaterial as a gas; generating the descenting material in a mist; thehuman being being a hunter and the animal is an animal hunted by thehuman being; at least one item in the space, the item having an itemforeign scent, the method further including descenting the item foreignscent; the foreign scent including human odor, the method furtherincluding supporting the generator on the human being; at least onedirection apparatus in communication with the generator, the methodfurther including with the at least one direction apparatus, directingdescenting material from the generator in a desired direction; theforeign scent including human odor, the method further includingsupporting the generator on the human being, wherein there is at leastone direction apparatus in communication with the generator, the methodfurther including with the at least one direction apparatus, directingdescenting material from the generator in a desired direction at a partof the human being; the part of the human being any of an armpit, torso,head, mouth, nostrils, groin, and feet; the at least one directionapparatus being a plurality of direction apparatuses; the foreign scentbeing in a blind and the descenting material introduced into the blind;the foreign scent being in a tent and the descenting material introducedinto the tent; the foreign scent being any of human odor, volatilematerial, and contaminating material; the fan apparatus assisting inintroducing the descenting material into the space; and/or the fanapparatus being spaced apart from the generator or integral therewith.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for descenting foreign scent froman item, the method including: placing an item in a container, the itemhaving a foreign scent, the container containing air, the containerlocated outdoors; generating descenting material in the container with agenerator; moving air in the container with a fan apparatus; andreducing the foreign scent with the descenting material; and, in certainaspects, such a method wherein: the descenting material being ozone andthe human being has on an item of clothing and the item of clothingreceives an amount of ozone produced by the generator, the amount ofozone sufficient so that ozone is retained on the item of clothing; theitem of clothing being colored and the ozone changes the color of atleast part of the item of clothing; and the fan apparatus is spacedapart from the generator or is integral therewith.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a system for descenting human odors on anitem, the system including: a container; a descenting material generatorin the container; and a fan apparatus in the container for moving air inthe container as descenting material is produced by the descentingmaterial generator.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a system for reducing foreign scent in aspace between a human being and an animal, the system including agenerator for producing descenting material; and at least one directionapparatus (or a plurality of them) in communication with the generatorfor receiving produced descenting material from the generator and fordirecting said descenting material in a desired direction to reduce theforeign scent.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for reducing foreign scent in aspace between a human being and an animal, the method including:producing descenting material with a generator; with directionapparatus, directing said descenting material in a desired directioninto the space, the direction apparatus including at least one directorin communication with the generator for receiving produced descentingmaterial from the generator and for directing said descenting materialinto the space; and reducing the foreign scent in the space with thedescenting material. Such a method may include one or some, in anypossible combination, of the following: the descenting material is ozoneand the method further including exposing the human being to about 0.1ppm ozone, or less, over an area within a radius of about six feet ofthe human being; the descenting material is ozone and the human being isexposed to a concentration of 0.2 ppm ozone, of less; the descentingmaterial is ozone and the human being over a time period of eight hoursor less is exposed to an ozone concentration of only 0.1 ppm or less.

The present invention provides, in certain aspects, methods fordirecting descenter to a wound, etc., to kill germs and/or facilitatehealing.

It is within the scope of the present invention, in circumstances inwhich an animal (to include a human being) has been exposed to theinjurious effects of material or animals (including, but not limited to,the injurious effects of contraband) for the animal (e.g., but notlimited to any animal in any of FIGS. 1-6, 11, 13-14B, 16, and/or 17) tointentionally breathe in descenter (e.g., but not limited to, ozone) toreduce or eliminate the injurious effects (e.g. on airways, nasalpassages, nose, throat, lungs, mouth and blood).

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for detecting presence of a thing,the thing treated with a descenter, the method including: in an area inwhich it is possible that a thing treated with a descenter is present,using a detector to detect a descenter level in the area, producing adetected descenter level; comparing the detected descenter level to anormal descenter level for the area; and determining that the detecteddescenter level is above the normal descenter level, said determiningindicating the possible presence of a thing treated with a descenter.Such a method may include one or some, in any possible combination, ofthe following: generating descenter in the area with a descentergenerator following a determination that the detected descenter level isless than the normal descenter level; wherein an enclosure with anenclosure interior is in the area and a thing treated with descenter ispossibly within the enclosure, the method further including: ventilatingthe interior of the enclosure; generating descenter in the enclosurewith a descenter generator following a determination of the detecteddescenter level; generating descenter outside the enclosure with adescenter generator following a determination of the detected descenterlevel; said descenter detector being hand-holdable, a person holding thedescenter detector to detect said detected descenter level; wherein thedetector is sensor apparatus controlled by and in communication with acontrol system, the method further including with the sensor apparatusdetecting a descenter level in the area and communicating said level tothe control system, and then with the control system, doing saiddetermining; wherein the enclosure is one of a container, part of avehicle, part of a plane, and part of a truck; wherein the thing is oneof at least one animal, at least one item, and at least one person;wherein the thing is contraband; following a determination of thedetected descenter level, searching the area for a thing treated withdescenter; wherein the searching is done with a service animal trainedto locate a thing treated with descenter; wherein the service animal istrained to smell contraband and the thing treated with descenter iscontraband; finding a thing treated with descenter, at least part ofsaid thing wrapped in a member containing descenter; wherein the memberis one of cloth, blanket, fabric, and wrap; wherein the member changescolor to indicate the presence or absence of descenter contained on orwithin the article; determining the normal descenter level; addingdescenter to the area to facilitate agglomeration and descent due togravity of dust in the area; wherein the descenter is one of ozone,ozone saturated in organic solvent, hydroxyl radicals, hydroperoxideradicals, negatively charged metal oxides, hydrogen peroxide,encapsulated ozone, metastable oxygen, activated ozone, peracetic acid,chlorine dioxide, oxygen and its radicals, thixotropic gels, singletoxygen, UV light at 254 nm, UV light at 185 nm, hypochlorite, andchlorite; and/or wherein the descenter is one of ozone, hydroxylradicals, and hydroperoxide radicals.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a container for containing a thing, thecontainer including: a body; an interior space in the body sized forlocation therein of the thing; at least one secondary space in the bodyaround and spaced apart from the interior space; and the at least onesecondary space containing descenter. Such a container may include oneor some, in any possible combination, of the following: including thething, the thing in the container; wherein the thing is contraband;wherein the body is made of material that changes color in response to adescenter; and/or wherein the container is one of cooler, bag, garmentbag, and body bag.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for transporting a thing, themethod including: placing a thing in a container, the container having abody, an interior space in the body sized for location therein of thething, at least one secondary space in the body around and spaced apartfrom the interior space, and the at least one secondary space containingdescenter, and moving the container from a first location to a secondlocation.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for transporting a thing, themethod including while moving a thing, applying descenter adjacent thething; and wherein the thing is contraband.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for training a service animal todetect a thing treated with descenter, the method including: placing aservice animal in an area in which a thing treated with descenter ispresent, and following choice of the thing by the service animal,rewarding the service animal.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for detecting possible presence ofa toxin in an area, the method including: detecting a normal level ofdescenter in an area, detecting an abnormal level of descenter in thearea, and a difference between the normal level and the abnormal levelcorresponding to a change in level due to reaction of descenter with atoxin.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for treating a bodily injury, themethod including directing descenter to a bodily injury.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for reducing effects of injurioussubstances, the method including following exposure to an injurioussubstance, inhaling descenter.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a treatment member including a body ofmaterial, the material having descenter thereon or therein, and thedescenter able to kill living toxin.

The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but notnecessarily all embodiments, a method for treating an area, the methodincluding detecting a drop in descenter level in an area below a normalambient level, and adding descenter to the area.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and theembodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claimsare well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends setforth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It isrealized that changes are possible within the scope of this inventionand it is further intended that each element or step recited in any ofthe following claims is to be understood as referring to the stepliterally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. The followingclaims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legallypossible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimedherein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §102 and satisfiesthe conditions for patentability in §102. The invention claimed hereinis not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §103 and satisfies theconditions for patentability in §103. This specification and the claimsthat follow are in accordance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112.The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine andassess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow asthey may pertain to apparatus and/or methods not materially departingfrom, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth inthe following claims. All patents and applications identified herein areincorporated fully herein for all purposes. It is the express intentionof the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 for anylimitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which theclaim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associatedfunction. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in itsnon-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included,but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to anelement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibilitythat more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearlyrequires that there be one and only one of the elements.

1. A method for detecting presence of a thing, the thing treated with adescenter, the method comprising in an area in which a thing treatedwith a descenter is present, using a detector to detect a descenterlevel in the area, producing a detected descenter level, comparing thedetected descenter level to an initial descenter level for the area, theinitial descenter level determined without the thing in the area, anddetermining that the detected descenter level is above the initialdescenter level, said determining indicating the presence of the thingtreated with a descenter, the thing being one of persons, drugs,explosives, produce, animals, agricultural products, and biologicalmaterials including bacteria, molds, dander, protein, urine, plasma,sera, viral agents, viruses, yeast, air pollen, blood, spores, protozoa,allergens, semen, radioactive materials, soil, sludge water, groundwater, VOCs, biological toxins, chemical toxins, cysts, and gaseousagents.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating descenterin the area with a descenter generator following a determination thatthe detected descenter level is less than the initial descenter level.3. The method of claim 1 wherein an enclosure with an enclosure interioris in the area and a thing treated with descenter is within theenclosure, the method further comprising ventilating the interior of theenclosure.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising generatingdescenter outside the enclosure with a descenter generator following adetermination that the detected descenter level is lower than theinitial descenter level.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprisingsaid descenter detector being hand-holdable, a person holding thedescenter detector to detect said detected descenter level.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the detector is sensor apparatus controlled byand in communication with a control system, the method furthercomprising with the sensor apparatus detecting a descenter level in thearea and communicating said level to the control system, and then withthe control system, doing said determining.
 7. The method of claim 3wherein the enclosure is one of: a container, part of a vehicle, part ofa plane, and part of a truck.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the thingis one of contraband persons, contraband drugs, contraband explosives,contraband produce, contraband animals, contraband agriculturalproducts, and contraband biological materials including contrabandbacteria, contraband molds, contraband dander, contraband protein,contraband urine, contraband plasma, contraband sera, contraband viralagents, contraband viruses, contraband yeast, contraband air pollen,contraband blood, contraband spores, contraband protozoa, contrabandallergens, contraband semen, contraband radioactive materials,contraband soil, contraband sludge water, contraband ground water,contraband VOCs, contraband biological toxins, contraband chemicaltoxins, contraband cysts, and contraband gaseous agents.
 9. The methodof claim 1 further comprising following a determination that thedetected descenter level is above the initial descenter level, searchingthe area for a thing treated with descenter.
 10. The method of claim 9wherein the searching is done with a service animal trained to locate athing treated with descenter.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein theservice animal is trained to smell contraband and the thing treated withdescenter is one of contraband persons, contraband drugs, contrabandexplosives, contraband produce, contraband animals, contrabandagricultural products, and contraband biological materials includingcontraband bacteria, contraband molds, contraband dander, contrabandprotein, contraband urine, contraband plasma, contraband sera,contraband viral agents, contraband viruses, contraband yeast,contraband air pollen, contraband blood, contraband spores, contrabandprotozoa, contraband allergens, contraband semen, contraband radioactivematerials, contraband soil, contraband sludge water, contraband groundwater, contraband VOCs, contraband biological toxins, contrabandchemical toxins, contraband cysts, and contraband gaseous agents. 12.The method of claim 1 further comprising finding a thing treated withdescenter, at least part of said thing wrapped in a member containingdescenter.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the member changes colorto indicate the presence or absence of descenter contained on or withinthe thing.
 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining theinitial descenter level.
 15. The method of claim 1 further comprisingadding descenter to the area to facilitate agglomeration and descent dueto gravity of dust in the area.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein thedescenter is one of ozone, ozone saturated in organic solvent, hydroxylradicals, hydroperoxide radicals, negatively charged metal oxides,hydrogen peroxide, encapsulated ozone, metastable oxygen, activatedozone, peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, oxygen and its radicals,thixotropic gels, singlet oxygen, UV light at 254 nm, UV light at 185nm, hypochlorite, and chlorite.